Which Major to Choose?

MLynn99

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May 10, 2016
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Originally I was sure I want to major in government as I am extremely politically-minded. But after doing research of the other majors Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering is starting to interest me.
My only fear about that major is the math required. I'll have taken Alg. 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus by the time I graduate. Will this be enough or will I be totally lost?
 
It might be enough. Feel out how comfortable you are with Calc.

Thanks. I'm hoping I can manage it. I've made it through pre-calculus with A's as long as I go to extra help and I've heard that professors at the academy are always offering help so that's one less stressor.
 
Thanks. I'm hoping I can manage it. I've made it through pre-calculus with A's as long as I go to extra help and I've heard that professors at the academy are always offering help so that's one less stressor.
How are you with chemistry and physics? Those are notorious for making 4/c and 3/c cadets cry and quickly change their minds about science or engineering majors after their first semester, (my son being one of them.) He had chemistry, calc, and physics in high school, so he thought he'd be ok, but the classes at CGA were at a totally different level. We used to joke about "2.5, stay alive," but now, "2.0, good to go" is starting to sound good too! Good thing is that you have the whole year during 4/c year to think about it since everyone takes the same classes. You definitely don't need to decide your major yet. After your first semester or year, you'll KNOW whether you enjoy math and science or you're a definite government. My son was unsure going in, but he's 100% government now.
 
How are you with chemistry and physics? Those are notorious for making 4/c and 3/c cadets cry and quickly change their minds about science or engineering majors after their first semester, (my son being one of them.) He had chemistry, calc, and physics in high school, so he thought he'd be ok, but the classes at CGA were at a totally different level. We used to joke about "2.5, stay alive," but now, "2.0, good to go" is starting to sound good too! Good thing is that you have the whole year during 4/c year to think about it since everyone takes the same classes. You definitely don't need to decide your major yet. After your first semester or year, you'll KNOW whether you enjoy math and science or you're a definite government. My son was unsure going in, but he's 100% government now.

I've done extremely well in Chemistry this year with high A's, I would have been in Honors level, but the scheduling wouldn't work. Physics I'll have to see as I'm taking honors next year. Thanks for the input, that helps a lot!
 
Hello fellow future-classmate. I'm in the same position but more about MES. I'm entering as an intended-MES major, but I'm thinking ORCA. One thing I like about the academies is that usually your 4/c year, you don't have a declared major, and we will all take math, science, and humanity classes. I think that I will be using my freshman year as a "test the waters" time, and see what I do best in. Thing is, we all end up on a boat with the same O-1 pay, no matter your major. I talked to a 2/c cadet who is an EE major and they said they really regret choosing EE because it made their life a lot more difficult than it needed to be (I think they are planning on making the Coast Guard officer route a life-long career.) So, I will see what my niche is and where I perform best and try to tailor my major towards that. An academy means a major + a hundred more obligations, so choose wisely and don't make your life harder than you want it to be!
 
You will be FLOODED with information on majors in January when you come back from holiday leave. By then you will also have a nice taste of academy life and a better feeling of what major is best for you. People change majors commonly during 4/c year....it's normal and designed that way and essentially is done with a single sheet of paper. By January you will also be much more comfortable around certain faculty members and be more comfortable asking their guidance in picking a major so informations will be abundant. I'm biased in telling you that ORCA is a great major as I teach in that department, but operations research is a field not many know about so we tend to see few declared majors at the beginning of 4/c year but many more come spring. It's a nice technical major for those not desiring to go the engineering route.
 
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