Economics is everywhere. From the bursting of the dot-com bubble to federal interest rate standards, a thorough working knowledge of how economics shapes businesses is necessary if you’re going to become a CEO one day. In addition to the broad economic skills that you’ll receive as a Managerial Economics major, you will also learn how to appreciate the intricate details behind specific economic contexts. No two economic systems are exactly the same, and so what works best in the United States for a company might not fly so well, say, in Romania, where different regulations can determine the way a company conducts business. As a Managerial Economics major your job will be to analyze those contexts, to figure out how policy decisions made by governments affect your company or business. From economic forecasts (which are occasionally worse that your local weather man), to decision making, to policy analysis, a major in Managerial Economics is a great way to enter the business world and quickly climb to the top of that corporate ladder.

Preparation

The best way to get ready for this major is to strengthen those math and analytical skills. Advanced courses in math, such as calculus, along with economics, are great preparation. This field isn’t just about numbers, though, so keep those critical reading and writing skills sharp with AP English classes and some history. The latter will come in useful when you need to make historical arguments to support whatever outlandish theory it is that you’re feeding to people.

Marine Science is the study of the sea and its inhabitants. As a Marine Science major you’ll consume a wide variety of subjects to augment your understanding of this field: biology, chemistry, geology, and physics are only a few of the disciplines that will be incorporated into your studies. You’ll learn about the many reasons why the sea is important to us, how it affects us, and what we can and should do to preserve it. You’ll study pollution and other health issues. You’ll learn about the many living things that inhabit the sea and the evolution, diversity, and importance of these inhabitants. A Marine Science major, like most science or engineering majors, will involve some degree of research and laboratory work. You’ll learn how to gather and analyze data and how to present your results in papers or presentations. You’ll also learn how to interpret others’ research results and how to critically read scientific literature. Eventually, your research may take you to such exotic locations as the Sargasso Sea, Antarctica, Africa, and the Caribbean, where you might, just might, get to swim with the dolphins (in the Caribbean, not Antarctica).

Preparation

As with any science major, courses in computers, biology, chemistry, and physics are of paramount importance. Also, you’ll benefit from high-level math courses such as calculus or trigonometry. English classes will give you the reading and writing skills necessary for a field involving research.

We are bombarded with images and messages every day of our lives, from billboards towering over the highway, to television commercials, newspaper ads, leaflets, brochures, and radio advertising. These messages shape our culture and define our perceptions, influencing the way we think and look at almost everything from a candy bar to geopolitics. Mass Communication majors investigate the role mass media has played, and continues to play, in American culture. They are analysts and historians, examining everything from 19th Century Harper’s political cartoons to the newest McDonald’s commercial. Given the enormous effect of the media on our daily lives, Mass Communication majors seek out how and why they reflect our social values. They also describe how public policy draws boundaries for Mass Communication, like the near-prohibition of nudity on broadcast television. Mass Communication majors are sometimes also located within a broader communication major that more generally examines the ways in which information is created and distributed, whether through a television commercial or a personal e-mail.

Preparation

Strong reading and analytical skills will come in handy in Mass Communication, so AP courses in English and advanced math (like statistics) are a must. Watch the news, movies, and the commercials in between them. Listen to what your friends have to say when the conversation turns to the media. They are members of the masses, after all.

The Bronze Age. The Stone Age. We wouldn’t have such metallic names for eras like these if materials weren’t so important to our daily lives. Materials Science is a major that explores these materials in-depth. You’ll learn about the structure and properties of materials, and the relationships between them. You’ll learn what controls and affects internal structures, and the processes that can alter them. Why materials act the way they do will be one area of concentration; how materials are processed will be another. You’ll also learn how to produce new materials, and the variety of uses for existing ones. You’ll study a great deal of physics and chemistry in this major, and you’ll be immersed in a great deal of laboratory work. You’ll learn how to apply mathematics to your studies, and you’ll do a lot of problem solving using your newfound skills. Communications technology, the computer industry, and biotechnology are just a few of the modern fields that require the expertise of materials scientists and engineers. As a Materials Science major, you’ll become skilled at identifying, characterizing, manufacturing, designing, and processing many materials we use in our everyday life. Cornell University suggests that we are living in the “Materials Age,” so you can be confident that your major will lead to an exciting career.

Preparation

To prepare for a major in Materials Science, try to take a variety of math and science courses. Physics and chemistry courses will be especially helpful, and make sure your math is upper-level, like calculus, trigonometry, and analytic geometry. Don’t forget your English classes—good engineers must also be good communicators.

“Diversity” is the key word when it comes to Mechanical Engineering. There are many fields in which Mechanical engineering plays a role: automated manufacturing, environmental control, transportation, biomedical fields, computer fields, fossil fuel and nuclear power…the list goes on and on. Mechanical Engineers are concerned with imagining and implementing programs and devices that improve our world and our movement in it. A Mechanical Engineering major’s designing endeavors are diverse, from tiny measuring instruments to huge aircraft carriers or power plants. They also are involved with testing, evaluating, distributing, and marketing the devices they and their colleagues create. If the all of these challenges appeal to you, Mechanical Engineering might be a major to consider. As with other engineering programs, your course of study may include one or more semesters of a co-operative education program, in which you will be employed full-time with an appropriate company. A co-operative is a great way to put your knowledge to use, and often times your co-op job leads to post-graduation employment.

Preparation

Science and math courses will be most helpful if you’re looking towards a Mechanical Engineering major. Try to take higher-level courses if they’re offered, like calculus and any AP classes. And no matter how much you get teased, go to science fairs and other scientific competitions. Be that geek whose entries always win. Nothing prepares you for a Mechanical Engineering major better than taking the things you learn in your chemistry and physics classes and putting them to practical use

Medieval and Renaissance Studies is an interdisciplinary major that encompasses study in (but is certainly not limited to) history, art history, philosophy, literature, music, and languages. It’s a perfect major if you’re interested in gaining a broad base of knowledge of two periods of time that still profoundly affect the way we interpret society and culture. The Middle Ages and Renaissance spans a period from about the 5th century to about the 16th century, and most of the action involved—oh, only the invention of the printing press, the building of the Duomo in Florence, the Protestant Reformation and a few others—took place in Europe. Interdependence of subjects and general knowledge—in contrast to the specialization of professions today—were the hallmarks of these times, so that poets might be priests, theologians might be scientists, and so forth. It’s not surprising then, that this major will expose you to so many different fields: it is their connection to each other that most characterized this time period. Many colleges offer Medieval and Renaissance Studies as a major; many others offer it as a minor, certificate, or concentration. Whatever the case, if you’re interested in learning about the origins of our modern world, you’ll love Medieval and Renaissance Studies.

Preparation

English, history, religion, and philosophy courses will give you a strong foundation for this multi-disciplinary major. Art and language courses—especially Latin—will be very valuable as well.

Shopaholics unite! If the mall could be your second home—not for the sale racks but because you’re fascinated by what makes people buy what they do and how their decisions are influenced—have we got the major for you. As a merchandising and buying operations major, you’ll explore the customers’ innermost desires and needs—and how best to meet them. You’ll keep up with the latest trends, examine how the fickle market responds to various factors, and discover what it takes for retailers and wholesalers to survive and thrive. You’ll learn how to analyze merchandising data and be able to crunch numbers to determine possible trends and changes in the market. You’ll learn how to plan sales, how to manage inventory, and how to skillfully evaluate and select merchandise. You’ll gain the skills necessary to artfully (and wisely) develop, buy, and present retail products, from fashion to home furnishings.The field of merchandising and buying operations (often listed individually at some colleges) is concerned with the entire buying experience. That includes all the decisions and elements that go into a customer’s journey—from entering the store to examining the merchandise to making a decision to making the actual purchase. Plus, you’ll be set to build an entire career out of shopping if that’s your wish. This major will prepare you to function as a professional buyer of resale products and product lines for stores, chains, or other retail empires. You’ll be primed for any number of careers in the merchandising world—a sales representative, a buyer, a store manager, or a boutique owner. You might go the route of business analysis, or find yourself involved in catalog retail. The possibilities are far-ranging and exciting, and your newly developed eye for smart merchandising strategies will put you on the path to success.

Preparation

To prepare for a major in merchandising and buying operations, you should build a foundation of knowledge in math, science, languages, and the humanities. Communication skills are vital to this major, so take English courses to strengthen your writing and speaking skills. Math courses will prepare you for the business side of this major, and art courses will prepare you for the creative side. Take courses that challenge and interest you.

Microbiology is the branch of biology which deals with the smallest organisms in the world, such as bacteria, yeasts, algae, and protozoa. These organisms rank among the most helpful and the most harmful to human life and the environment. Microbiologists work to swing the balance in our favor. Microbiologists perform extensive medical research, investigating pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms. If you dream of finding the cure for cancer, AIDS, or the common cold, this could be the major for you. Microbiologists also help protect crops and purify our drinking water. An added bonus: through their work with bacteria and yeasts, Microbiology majors can learn how to make their own beer, cheese, yogurt, wine, bread, and pickles. Many microbiologists are, in fact, employed by food and beverage producers to make these very products. Upon graduation, you could even open your own microbrewery.

Preparation

Science! Take all the biology and chemistry you can. Advanced mathematics is also recommended.

Military Science programs aim to prepare students for careers in the United States Army. Should you choose to major in Military Science, you’ll be taking traditional university courses while learning how to foster soldier-citizen relationships in an academic setting. Your training in a Military Science program includes familiarizing yourself with leadership roles, American history, ethics, and military law. There are also several field components: you’ll be participating in rifle shooting, obstacle courses, rappelling, and many other outdoor activities. During your college experience you’ll be working to improve your physical fitness as well as your leadership skills. Generally, many activities are held outside the university, such as visiting actual battlefields or studying in other Army-run programs like Airborne and Air Assault training.

Preparation

Since participating in a Military Science program most often includes taking traditional courses, English, political science, or philosophy will give you a good foundation on which to build. Also, Military Science programs usually require proficiency in writing, American history, and computer skills, so any courses related to these fields will be valuable.

Do you have a strong faith? Are you committed to spreading the tenets of your religion and to converting others? Then consider a life in Missions. Missionaries believe that one of their most important tasks in life is to spread the word of God and bring people into their church, whichever church it may be. Missions as a major is offered mostly at religious universities, and it deals with the fundamentals of evangelism and the ways missionaries work. You’ll learn about the biblical basis for mission work and why missionaries do what they do. You’ll study your faith and learn how to evangelize effectively. You’ll learn about the history of world missions, and the role missions play in contemporary society. You’ll learn the skills of church planning, preaching in urban settings, and discipleship. The main goal of most people who major in Missions is to pursue overseas missionary work. To this end, you’ll study world religions and see how Christianity affects and is affected by them. You’ll learn how to communicate effectively with people of other cultures in order to spread your faith. You’ll learn how to deal with economic, political, and spiritual crises that might arise during mission work. Throughout your studies you’ll gain an understanding of and a devotion to the importance of worldwide evangelism.

Preparation

Besides getting a solid background in math, science, and the humanities, you can prepare for a Missions major by getting involved in faith-based groups in your church, school, or community. The experiences you’ll gain will give you an idea of what Missions entails. If you attend a religious school, religion courses will be good as well.