Pre-Veterinary Medicine is for those students who have an eye on veterinary school. Veterinarians are skilled at caring for animals—diagnosing and treating their health problems, preventing those problems from happening—basically ensuring these critters’ well-being. Vets often choose between working with small animals and working with larger ones (such as farm animals), but there are plenty of vets who are capable of working with all sizes. Pre-Veterinary Medicine programs at most colleges encompass science and math courses that most veterinary schools require for admittance. Biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and other courses will form a large part of your curriculum, as well as classes in animal sciences and zoology. Getting involved in an internship or volunteering in a vet’s office are both great ways to augment your studies and get a little experience before veterinary school. Most veterinary schools don’t require you to major in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. The most important things schools look for is a strong background in science and math—and, if possible, actual veterinary observation or experience.

Preparation

Pre-Veterinary Medicine will require a great deal of math and science, so now’s your chance to get prepared—biology, chemistry, calculus, and other advanced courses will be your best bets. Courses dealing with animals—such as husbandry courses, if you live in a rural area—will be of obvious help to your getting a head start on your college curriculum.

Psychology is the study of the way humans and animals interact and respond to their environment. The manner in which they do is called behavior. Psychology combines humanities and science. Psychologists try to discover why certain people react to certain aspects of society and the world at large in a certain way, and from those reactions, they try to deduce something about the biology of our brains and the way the environment influences us. Sound complicated? It is, but it’s also a profoundly fascinating major. If you major in Psychology, you’ll look for the essence of why people are the way they are, from their personality type to their sexual orientation. Within this broad framework, Psychology majors focus on such features of the human mind as learning, cognition, intelligence, motivation, emotion, perception, personality, mental disorders, and the ways in which our individual preferences are inherited from our parents or shaped by our environment. With a strong background in research and the scientific method, a Psychology major pursues a field of study that seeks to educate, communicate, and resolve many of the problems surrounding human behavior.

Preparation

In addition to taking introductory psychology courses at your high school, students should also prepare themselves by having a strong background in science, math, English, and computer courses. Spending your time volunteering at a local hospital or mental health clinic is also a great opportunity to gain practical experience in the field. There is also a wealth of reading material available to those who have an interest in psychology, from scholarly journals, to newspapers and magazines.

Public Health is the study of how health issues affect populations, and the development of methods to improve the general well-being of the public at large. Public Health majors study the science and the politics behind Public Health policies. Whether investigating communicable diseases, working with the mentally ill, implementing nutrition programs, or studying policy, Public Health majors strive to fulfill the mission of the World Health Organization, as given in its definition of health: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Some schools further divide this major into separate concentrations, such as nutrition, biostatistics, and health administration. Other schools require classes in each of these areas. Many Public Health programs begin at the graduate level, but some schools do offer this major to undergraduates. Graduate study is not necessarily required to work in Public Health, but it is definitely something to consider.

Preparation

Classes in biology, chemistry, and advanced math will be useful, if not required. A second language (especially Spanish) couldn’t hurt, either.

You’re always into what’s new and now, you’ve got a knack for organization and a flair for writing, and people always listen to what you have to say. If you’re all that, with a soft spot for glitz and glamour, welcome to the fast-paced, results-driven, done-yesterday world of PR. According to Kent State University, public relations is “the strategic management of communication and relationships between organizations and their key publics.” In other words, public relations specialists control how organizations and their products or services are perceived by the public—and in turn, what image their paying clients (the organizations) portray. As a public relations major, you’ll learn about all the written, verbal, and visual elements that go into effective public relations. You’ll be prepped on how to write a press release and how to handle media attention on your client’s behalf. Your studies may also include forays into publishing newsletters, designing effective promotional ads, newswriting, broadcast media, and videography. Once you have a grasp on these basics, you’ll learn how to use them effectively to drive sales for your client and earn favor in the public eye. Knowing when to communicate what is essential in public relations. You’ll learn how to develop your information and messages, and how to make sure that information is portrayed in the best possible way to your targeted audience. The best PR pros will also know a little about event planning, product launches, public speaking, and damage control. Public relations is in many ways an interdisciplinary major, and you’ll study elements from many other fields, including psychology, philosophy, languages, business, art, and many others. You’ll learn how to analyze public opinion and various research studies in order to determine what the public relations needs are for a certain organization. Problem solving and strategic planning abilities go a long way in the field, so hone them now. Oh, and there are ethical issues too, when it comes to “influencing” public opinion—you’ll want to maintain ethical business practices for the sake of your PR firm and your firm’s loyal clients. Many programs require students to participate in an internship, which is a great way to see the world of PR from the inside, and some programs require students to choose a concentration, often in the business field. Be sure to research exactly what’s required as you determine what program is best for you.

Preparation

Although you probably won’t have any actual public relations courses in your high school, you can prepare for this major by taking classes that strengthen your communication skills, such as English, languages, history, and art. Great interpersonal skills are also vital to a career in PR, so get involved in extracurricular activities to get used to interacting with all different kinds of people.

Radiologic Technology is a very professionally oriented major in the health care field. Radiologic technologists use x-rays and radioactive substances to diagnose and treat diseases and injuries. Two-year and four-year degree programs in Radiologic Technology and Radiography are available at colleges and universities all across the fruited plain. One of the important things to know about the field of Radiologic Technology is that there is a big, national standardized test involved. Would-be practitioners must sit for the National Certification Examination in Radiography. If you major in Radiologic Technology, what you’ll learn is how to perform sophisticated diagnostic x-ray procedures. You’ll learn exactly what an x-ray is, how to operate radiography equipment, and more than you ever wanted to know about radiation safety.

Preparation

You’ll need a strong foundation in the basic sciences. If you are planning to major in Radiologic Technology in college, you should take courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. You’ll need a decent background in math as well.

Linked closely with the fields of finance and business, Real Estate is a major that leads directly to a specialized career. Although most states require specific licenses to practice Real Estate, a major will give you all the basics you need to get on your way. As a Real Estate major, you’ll learn the difference between residential and commercial real estate. You’ll learn about brokerage and financial management. You’ll study construction management and property management. You’ll learn about land development, real estate valuation, and marketing. Finance, accounting, and economics will be part of your studies as well. There are many different career options for Real Estate majors–consulting firms, insurance companies, and banks are just a few of the organizations that need Real Estate experts on their teams.

Preparation

For a major in Real Estate, your best preparation will be courses in business, math, English, and communications. Most of your coursework will be on material that high schools don’t offer, so the ability to organize and learn new information—as well as good reading and writing skills—will be the best tools to help you out. And it wouldn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with real estate ads (and all that slick marketing jargon they include), brochures, and the industry in general.

Sounds simple enough, right? Your pleasure is someone else’s leisure. You provide diversion for other people, maybe by leading a game of volleyball, or officiating at a soccer game.
Oh, if only life, and this major, were that simple. Recreation Management, while it of course involves the study of recreation, also trains you to look at the business and structure of the recreation industry, from national parks to amusement parks, from forests to sport fishing. It is a combination of business and social science, where you have the opportunity to take courses like the psychology of sports alongside microeconomics and accounting. With the continuous demand for a break from hectic lives, Recreation Management majors could find it relatively easy to land a job in this lucrative industry. As more people explore national parks or vacation at posh resorts, you will find yourself poised to provide top-notch recreational options with the business and managerial skills necessary to making whatever activity you’re selling a financially worthwhile endeavor.

Preparation

Experience playing sports might be helpful, but don’t forget that you will also need strong math skills as well as solid footing in the humanities. Take statistics, calculus, and any business courses your school might offer. Take some challenging English classes as well.

Some people mistakenly think the only reason you’d want to major in Religious Studies (or just Religion, as it’s called at some schools) is to have a career as a priest, minister, or rabbi. We hope you aren’t one of those people. It’s true that Religious Studies is a very good major for students who want to go on to seminaries for further training as religious professionals. Religious Studies is also, however, an excellent way to prepare for other professions, not least because most departments offer a low student-faculty ratio and a breadth of curriculum that few majors can equal. Religion is central to all aspects of human life and it profoundly shapes the thought and values of its adherents. If you major in Religious Studies, you’ll study the diverse myths, rituals, original texts, and moral systems of the world’s many different religious traditions. Religious Studies, like other liberal arts majors, provides an extraordinary opportunity to think about the core beliefs of civilizations past and present. Regarding the more practical problem of finding work after college, a Religious Studies major will significantly improve your critical thinking and writing skills. And it makes for an interesting topic during job interviews. Trust us on this one. Employers will invariably find the major fascinating when they see it on your resume, and they’ll ask about it, and you’ll get to impress them with your knowledge and insight about the world.

Preparation

There is no special additional high school preparation required for the major in Religious Studies. Try to take courses in literature, foreign languages, history, and anything else that will challenge you to develop your critical reading and writing skills.

This is sort of what your mother used to do when she wouldn’t let you swing upside down over a pile of rocks, or when she refused to let you go on a date with that guy who had the pierced lip and a tattoo that read “Heartbreaker.” Though she was ruining your social life, she was, in her own way, also managing your risk. Unfortunately, unlike a sixth sense, you’re not born with Risk Management expertise. Risk Management is a science that helps businesses and individuals determine the potential outcomes of their actions. Should you invest in that undeveloped real estate in central Florida? Or what about that new dot-com? In these situations, and similar ones, Risk Management specialists help people understand the consequences of their endeavors. They are the personal trainers of the business world, helping their clients map out strategies that take into account their aspirations and liabilities. Risk management majors are in demand in just about every industry. From Fortune 500 corporations to a three-man skydiving company, a major in Risk Management will make you a valuable asset to almost any business.

Preparation

The best preparation for a major in Risk Management is to not do anything of which your parents wouldn’t approve. In addition to this, become a lover of statistics. You’ll be studying a lot of them in college and even generating them yourself. Solid understanding of calculus helps in predicting trends as well. To turn numbers into argument, take writing-intensive courses, like AP English.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 created many newly independent republics, and the United States has since been striving to strike or maintain political and economic bonds with them all. Knowledge of Russian history, culture, economics, and language is fundamental to the success of this endeavor. As a Russian major, you’ll spend most of your time becoming skilled in the Russian language, which will mean, among other things, learning a completely different alphabet (unless you already have experience with Russian). Many universities offer multimedia instruction for languages classes, so you’ll have a variety of means to explore your use and understanding of Russian. You’ll learn about Russian literature by studying great writers like Dostoevsky. You’ll study politics and economics. You’ll learn about what it means to be a Russian, and how the new republics define their places in the world. There is quite a bit to learn about the Russian culture, and the interdisciplinary nature of the major will give you the opportunity to explore many different fields. One of the benefits of majoring in a foreign language is the perspective you’ll gain on your own language and culture. Since our world is becoming increasingly integrated, a deep knowledge of another language and culture will be an asset no matter what career you choose to pursue.

Preparation

When you’re planning to major in a foreign language, the most valuable courses you can take are, drum roll, please…courses in other languages! See what your high school offers in French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, or others. Take a lot of courses in history, art, music, English, and political science; foreign language majors usually include a great deal about the culture of the mother country.