As you flip your way through the newest Ikea catalog, you find yourself cringing, thinking to yourself, “How could they ever design something like that?” You know (or think you know) that you can do what they do better. Behind every new piece of furniture, shoe, coffee maker, and television stands an industrial designer. They are the men and women who help to fashion the objects around us, including that hideous coffee table in your living room. Industrial Design takes the creativity behind a broader design major and focuses it on how some of the most basic objects that we take for granted are created. It’s art for the practical world. As an Industrial Design major you will have the chance to explore that creative energy within you. You can take your own particular sense of aesthetic, which will expand through courses in art and art history, and bring them to bear on that perfect refrigerator you’ve been imagining.

Preparation

If you have the chance to take drafting, drawing, and design courses, run with it, otherwise, build up those drawing skills as much as you can on your own, along with math, art, and physics. You’ll probably need a portfolio to get into any design program, so draw from life as much as possible. Buy a full range of pencils to ensure strong gradation from light to dark in all of your drawings. Learning about different artistic mediums will make your drawing endeavors richer, and your artistic vision broader. History and English classes might also give your art new perspectives.

An Industrial Management major, similar to its counterparts, which include risk management and logistics management, is a specialized entry into corporate America. Industrial Management majors are the folks with long-term planning skills. They’re the ones who help to plan and manage a corporation’s production strategy. This means that they have to have a keen sense of business, along with a great understanding of economics and finance. Either those, or a very accurate crystal ball. Industrial Management majors are always in demand by companies and government organizations. Running a business can be a roller-coaster ride, and Industrial Management majors are there to help prepare and control some of that fickleness with long-term strategic planning that takes into consideration everything from supply and demand to last year’s gross revenues.

Preparation

Focus on developing those strong quantitative skills through advanced math courses, courses like calculus and statistics. Don’t forget that managers have to be able to speak and communicate effectively, so make sure you know how to read and write clearly by taking tough English courses.

Those who work in information technology provide a crucial link between technology and those who use and depend on it, but have little more than a superficial understanding of computers. In this major, you’ll learn how to design computing systems based on a business’ research, data, and communication needs. In an information technology program, you’ll learn all the basics of computer science, including hardware and software components, programming, algorithms, databases, operating systems, and network administration. Computer design and editing existing systems and software will also be part of your program. Once you understand how computers work and the technology behind them, you’ll learn how to apply this knowledge in a business setting. You’ll study how to solve a wide range of problems, including how to customize and integrate systems to meet business and individual user needs, how to maintain day to day operations, how to design networking systems, and how to handle security problems.

Preparation

To prepare for this major, take physics, advanced algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and whatever your school offers in computer classes.

Look around. Every contained space has some kind of an Interior Design: homes, offices, hospitals, stores, offices, hotels, resorts, theaters, restaurants, and everything else with four walls. Some of it is tasteful and some of it hideous, but it is Interior Design nonetheless. As a college major, Interior Design is heavily pre-professional and very hands-on (expect a lot of projects that simulate on-the-job situations). It falls into the broader category of design. If you decide to major in Interior Design, you’ll study light, color, form, space, furnishings, and pretty much all other aspects of built environments. You’ll study the basics of three-dimensional design, space planning, and perspective. You’ll also study color theory, different kinds of materials and patterns, and computer-aided design, which is all the rage these days. Once you get into the major a bit, you’ll probably have the choice of specializing in residential design or commercial design.

Preparation

Obviously, take art classes – drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and the like – because it will develop your ability to visualize, conceptualize, and create. Familiarity with computers is also a plus, as a lot of Interior Design is done with the assistance of software these days.

International Business is an extension of a business program. You’ll learn about standard business practices, ethics, and economics, and you’ll generally focus on a subset of the field such as accounting, finance, or marketing. A major in International Business will lead you to use your business skills in a global context. You might learn about business transactions between and within countries; the laws and logistics of international trade; or investments made in foreign markets. It goes without saying that knowledge of other cultures is crucial to being a successful International Businessperson. Besides your studies in business, finance, banking, and the like, you will also learn about new cultures and societies, strange laws and perspectives. You might be required to become proficient in a foreign language—even if a language isn’t required for your degree, it will certainly make you a more appealing prospective employee. If you’re successful mastering all this, you’ve got a good shot at being admitted to the jetsetter crowd. Many universities offer internships at overseas companies, so you’ll be able to actually see what it’s like to work in a foreign business environment. Keep in mind, too, that an appreciation for travel and a compassionate world view are assets in this field.

Preparation

To be a successful International Business major, you should have excellent writing, reading, mathematics, and communication skills. You can develop all of these skills in high school courses such as English, history, political science, speech, and math. Also consider courses in foreign languages, any and all of them.

From knowing who the president of France is, to understanding how the global economy really works, International Studies majors are immersed in the politics, culture, and history of various parts of the world. As an International Studies major your focus is more on depth than breadth, so while you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the commerce of the world as a whole, you will probably concentrate on a specific region of the globe, studying in detail its unique history, economy, and political structure. Whether it’s Africa, Asia, or Western or Eastern Europe, you will have the opportunity to focus on the region or countries that interest you most, learning their language, and perhaps even spending a semester studying abroad. In addition to focusing on a specific region, International Studies majors concentrate on some of the most pressing political and social issues of the contemporary world. You can choose to focus your area of study on economic development issues around the globe, or problems of diplomacy. Drawing upon other fields of study, such as economics, history, and political science, International Studies will equip you with a greater understanding of how other cultures live and govern themselves.

Preparation

Foreign language: find one that you love early and stick with it through high school. The higher levels of a language usually incorporate more study of the culture of the countries in which it’s spoken than lower level classes. World history and Western civilization classes lay the foundation of how the world has shaped up so far. If you have the means and can spend an extended period of time living in another country, immerse yourself in the culture. Believe us, you won’t regret it.

If you major in Italian, you will – of course – become fluent in speaking the language. You’ll probably spend a semester or two in Italy, too. Or, at least, you should. But all that is just the tip of the iceberg. The study of a language at the college level is not limited to the memorization of words and verb conjugations. If you major in Italian (or any other language) in college, you’ll study history, art, politics, and everything else that characterizes the culture of the places where it’s spoken. After completing several required courses in Italian grammar, composition, and conversation, you’ll choose from a variety of classes in Italian literature, advanced translation, and civilization. In a nutshell, your courses will cover everything Italian – from Dante to Fellini, from Spartacus to Mussolini. You won’t run out of topics. The people and culture of Italy have contributed a great deal to the arts, political theory, literature, and religion of the world. There’s Michelangelo (who painted the Sistine Chapel), Leonardo da Vinci (who painted The Mona Lisa), Galileo (one of the most important scientists ever), Machiavelli (who wrote The Prince), and Dante (who wrote The Divine Comedy), just to name a few. If you choose to major in Italian, you will spend four years studying the great works of Italian culture – in the original Italian no less – which have contributed immensely to the history and culture of the world.

Preparation

This is obvious, but if your high school offers Italian as a subject, you should take as many courses as you can. Most high schools don’t offer Italian, though, so don’t be surprised if yours doesn’t. If you can’t take Italian, take Latin or, if you prefer, Spanish, which is the next best thing because the languages are very similar. You should also take English composition and literature courses and European history courses. Also, remember that, as a liberal arts major in college, you’ll almost certainly be required to take a few courses in math and science, so don’t ignore those topics.