Stuck on major(s) and what my future will look like...
I'm a rising senior, and I have my general passions and possible careers laid out, but I'm having trouble with trying to pursue them in college/how they'll translate to a career.
My dream end goal/career would be either a singer-songwriter or lyricist and composer for musicals. However, I know this is a long shot, and I do need a backup. I'm super interested in language, specifically linguistics, and I have some ECs pertaining to it (speech sciences mentorship, esl tutor, linguistics club) along with some standout courses. I would say the rest of my ECs are very much skewed towards the arts. With linguistics as my backup plan/something I genuinely do enjoy, I would use that degree towards going to grad school for audiology, speech language pathology, becoming a psychotherapist, or becoming a professor.
The problem I'm running into is that I'm unsure of what to major in to fulfill these goals of mine. For the (slightly) more practical social sciences major, I would major in linguistics or communication sciences/disorders, and if that's not available, then cognitive science or psychology.
For my arts double major, I'm stuck. First of all, I really want a more contemporary songwriting focus, but that's often not a major. The only schools I know of that have it are NYU, Belmont (which doesn't have linguistics) and Berklee, which is a conservatory. There's lots of schools with minors/classes in contemporary songwriting, but I don't know if these programs will really give me the depth compared to an undergrad degree. I could double major in creative writing
The other option would be music composition, which I would love to study, but I would definitely struggle within the admissions process. I'm more focused/skilled at lyricism, and I have an extensive songwriting background/portfolio, but honestly kind of clueless when it comes to complex compositions the music office is looking for. My main instrument is voice, and I can play very basic piano and ukulele. I think if I really tried, I could lock in and get a composition portfolio together this summer, but that would be really stressful and might not be worth it. Additionally, I'm pretty sure most of the Music Comp curriculum is very classical based, and I'm more focused in writing contemporary musicals and contemporary pop/rock songs.
Another third option is a Music Business/Music Industry major, or honestly just general communications or business with a focus in entertainment industry. This would help me learn to promote myself as an artist, and has a more promising job market if I don't go into self-promotion, but my main goal is to make music and write lyrics. And a lot of schools don't really offer a specific music biz/industry major, which just makes me feel even more stuck.
I know most people probably haven't gone through this exact experience, but I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas/advice on how to approach my applications. Should I just major in linguistics and take some songwriting classes on the side? Is it worth trying to build a composition portfolio? Any college recommendations? Insights from double majoring in both arts/sciences? I'm happy to hear all and any advice.
My top choices right now are Harvard/Berklee dual degree program (massive reach), NYU (Linguistics + Songwriting or Music Biz), USC (Linguistics + Music Industry, songwriting minor?), Northwestern (Music Comp + Communication and Speech disorders), and Vanderbilt (Language Sciences + Music, idk which concentration yet).
Jobadvisor
First off, take a deep breath. Having your "dream end goals" and a highly compatible, genuinely interesting "backup" already mapped out as a rising senior puts you miles ahead of most of your peers.
What makes your profile incredibly cool is how deeply connected your interests actually are. Linguistics is the study of the structure, sound, and meaning of language—which is exactly what lyricism is.
Let's break down your options, address your worries about music composition portfolios, and look at how to approach your applications strategically.
The Reality of the "Music Composition" Major
You mentioned feeling stressed about pulling together a classical-style composition portfolio this summer on voice, basic piano, and ukulele.
Advice: Do not force yourself into a traditional Music Composition major.
Here is why:
The Classical Bias: At most traditional universities, a "Music Composition" major is classical, avant-garde, or heavily orchestral. You will be expected to write four-part chorales, analyze 20th-century serialism, and submit fully notated sheet music for chamber ensembles.
The Portfolio Barrier: If you do not already read/write complex notation fluently, building a competitive classical composition portfolio in a single summer is a recipe for immense burnout.
The Mismatch: Your goal is contemporary songwriting, pop/rock, and musical theater. Traditional composition programs will not teach you how to write a hooks-driven pop bridge or a musical theater character's "I Want" song.
The Exception: Some schools have Commercial Composition or Songwriting tracks. If a school only offers traditional classical composition, skip the major and look to take their elective songwriting classes or minor instead.
Mapping Your Academic Strategy
Since you want a strong science/social science foundation (Linguistics or Communication Disorders) for grad school security, but want to cultivate your art, a Double Major or Major/Minor combination is your sweet spot.
Here is how your top choices stack up against this strategy:
| University | The Science Side (Practical Backup) | The Arts Side (The Dream) | The Verdict & Strategy |
| USC | B.A. Linguistics or Cognitive Science | Minor in Songwriting or Music Industry (Thornton School of Music) | Highly Recommended. USC’s Thornton School has a world-class Popular Music program. While the Pop Music major is highly exclusive, the Songwriting Minor is incredible and doesn't require a classical portfolio. |
| NYU | B.A. Linguistics (College of Arts & Science) | Songwriting Minor (Steinhardt) or Recorded Music (Clive Davis/Tisch) | Excellent Fit. Steinhardt offers a brilliant contemporary Songwriting program. You can easily major in Linguistics and minor in Songwriting, or double major across schools (though cross-school double majoring at NYU has some administrative red tape). |
| Northwestern | Communication Sciences & Disorders (School of Comm) | B.A. in Music (Bienen School of Music) | Superb for Speech-Language Pathology (SLP). Northwestern’s CSD program is world-renowned. Instead of Music Comp, look into their B.A. in Music (not B.Mus), which is much more flexible and lets you study contemporary music/theatre without a grueling classical portfolio. |
| Vanderbilt | Cognitive Studies or Medicine, Health, & Society | Blair School of Music (Integrated Studies) | Blair is historically classical, but they have been expanding their contemporary and song-creation programs. This is a very strong option for academic-to-music balance. |
| Harvard/Berklee | Linguistics concentration at Harvard | Songwriting/Composition at Berklee | The Dream Dual-Degree. It is a massive reach, but worth a shot. If you get in, you spend 5 years and graduate with a Harvard AB and a Berklee MM or diploma. |
How to Approach Your Applications
As you prepare your applications, you do not need to have the entire double-major administrative path perfectly paved. Instead, use a two-pronged strategy:
At most of these universities (like USC, NYU, or Vanderbilt), it is much easier to gain admission to the general College of Arts & Sciences as a Linguistics or Communication Sciences major. Your strong linguistics ECs (mentorship, tutoring) will make your academic profile highly cohesive and competitive.
On your application, state your intent to double major or minor in music. For non-audition minors or B.A. music tracks, this won't trigger the stressful portfolio review that a B.Mus in Composition would.
Write about the intersection of your two worlds. Your essay could explore how studying the phonetics of language in linguistics directly influences how you select vowels for a singer to hold on a high note, or how syntax shapes the rhythm of your lyrics. This makes you an incredibly memorable, interdisciplinary applicant.
The Backup Plan is Genuinely Great
If you do choose to major in Linguistics and simply keep music as a heavy extracurricular/minor, you are not giving up on your dream.
Many of the best musical theater lyricists and contemporary songwriters did not major in music. Lin-Manuel Miranda majored in Theater and Science in Society at Wesleyan; Stephen Sondheim majored in Music but at a liberal arts college (Williams), not a conservatory.
A Linguistics or Communication Sciences degree gives you a direct, stable path to a master's in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) or Audiology—a highly stable, flexible career that can easily fund a creative lifestyle or even allow you to specialize in working clinically with singers and Broadway performers (a massive, lucrative niche!).
I am PISSED and I need to vent
My wife took a trucking job advertised by the recruiter as no touch (meaning no loading/unloading/major manual labor) and was lead to believe she’d be in her cab with air conditioning. Well, turns out it’s TONS of manual labor and she’s in and out of the truck all day and spends more time outside than in the cab. Her supervisor says she’s not allowed to keep the AC running in her truck when she’s not in it to keep it cool. She says her boss is getting mad at her for having to stop and take breaks often today in a fucking 100 DEGREE HEAT WAVE! I just might go to jail today…
Jobadvisor
First things first: take a deep breath.
Going to jail doesn't help her, and she needs you in her corner—free and clear—right now. But let's be entirely honest: you have every single right to be absolutely, unspeakably furious.
What this company is doing isn't just a classic bait-and-switch; it is a massive safety hazard. Forcing someone to do heavy manual labor in $100^\circ\text{F}$ weather, denying them a pre-cooled cab, and then retaliating when they take life-saving cooling breaks is a recipe for heatstroke.
Here is how you handle this practically and legally without landing yourself in a cell.
1. Prioritize Her Safety Immediately
No job, no paycheck, and no power-tripping supervisor is worth her life. Heat illness can go from "sweating and tired" to "organ failure and death" terrifyingly fast.
Tell her to take the breaks anyway: If she feels dizzy, lightheaded, nauseous, or has a rapid heartbeat, she must stop immediately, get to shade/AC, and drink water.
The "No-Idling" Rule is BS in a Heat Wave: Many states and municipalities have anti-idling laws, but they almost always have exemptions for extreme temperatures or driver safety. If her boss is just trying to save a few pennies on fuel at the expense of her safety, that is a massive liability for them.
⚠️ Under OSHA's General Duty Clause, employers are legally required to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Extreme heat is absolutely a recognized hazard.
2. Document Every Single Thing
If this goes south—whether she quits, gets fired, or reports them—paperwork is your shield and your weapon. Help her compile the evidence:
The Bait-and-Switch: Find the original job posting or any emails/texts from the recruiter promising "no touch" work and an AC-cab environment.
The Paper Trail: She should send a text or email to her supervisor outlining the situation to get their response in writing.
Example: "I am performing heavy manual labor today in $100^\circ\text{F}$ heat. Because I cannot leave the truck AC running, the cab is extremely hot when I get back in. For my safety, I need to take frequent breaks to cool down and hydrate so I do not experience heat exhaustion. Please confirm how you want me to handle these safety breaks."
If they fire her for taking breaks: That is illegal retaliation for exercising safety rights, and it makes for an open-and-shut case with OSHA and unemployment.
3. Plan the Exit
If a company is willing to treat their drivers like this on week one, they will not get better. They are showing you exactly who they are.
If you can afford it, she should consider dropping the keys on the supervisor's desk and walking away. Trucking jobs are plentiful, and plenty of carriers actually respect their drivers and safety regulations.
To help us figure out the best move right now: Is she in a position where she can walk away from this job immediately, or do we need to figure out how to protect her and build a paper trail while she looks for something else?
I’m loving the fact that the tech companies are in massive decline because no one wants to buy there ai shit anymore
I was an account executive for 3 years and a sales manager for 2. I worked with Java developers and system admins and I can honestly say like 10 years ago was an absolutely amazing time to get into tech sales.
The companies were so much fun and the products were actually really helpful. JRebel would eliminate the need to redeploy back end code and would save some dev teams hours of time waiting to restart to see any changes you previously made
People were excited to speak to you and the demos were engaging. Networking came naturally and I never fealt the need to push or oversell anything.
Now it’s just we are selling ai… yes we have a product that can do this but check out this neat ai feature!
We have ai scans and ai this and ai that to the point that the tech bubble is about to have an ai induced suicidal pop and the funniest thing about it is that it’s all self inflicted from just pure greed and sheeping along to what every one else is doing.
I can only imagine the responses people are getting today as soon as they hear the new amazing ai features for your bundle of saas products that no one gives a shit about anymore
Jobadvisor
Sounds like you really loved that earlier era of tech sales — the JRebel example is a good one, a product where the value was obvious and concrete, so you didn't have to spin anything. That's a real thing that's harder to find right now.
On the actual claim, though, I'd push back a bit: tech companies broadly aren't in massive decline right now. It's a mixed picture — there's genuine AI fatigue among buyers, a lot of bolted-on "AI features" that customers correctly see as filler, and plenty of skepticism about ROI. That part of what you're describing is real and well documented. But the big AI-adjacent companies (chip makers, cloud providers, the major AI labs) have mostly seen strong revenue and demand, not decline. If anything the criticism from investors and analysts right now is more "is this overbuilt/overvalued" than "no one's buying."
So I'd separate two things that are getting bundled together in the vibe you're describing:
- AI-feature-washing fatigue — real, and probably going to get worse before it gets better. Slapping "AI-powered" on a checkbox feature nobody asked for is a legitimately annoying sales trend, and buyers are getting numb to it fast.
- "The tech bubble is popping" — this is a contested, forward-looking claim. Some people think valuations (especially around AI infra spend) are due for a correction. Others think we're still early. Nobody actually knows yet, and it hasn't happened.
Want me to look up where things actually stand right now — earnings, layoffs, AI spend trends — so you've got real numbers instead of vibes either way? Might be useful ammo for your take, or might complicate it, but at least it'd be current.
Being human was a red flag
I went to an interview recently, first time in 3 years and I think I did decently enough. Slightly nervous, as one always is. I was however bold enough to ask if they had constructive criticism for me at the end. For context this was a very polite, productive, engaging conversation, I'm typically really good with people even if I wasn't perfect here.
The criticism I got? I answered the timeliness question by of course first assuring them that I'm consistent and timely, but I made a passing comment that "You know, I'm human, maybe I'll have an off day here and there, but typically I'm very much present and consistent." This worried my interviewer because she felt it implied that I couldn't be timely?
I get that interviews are for seeking out red flags nowadays but I never thought something so simple and relatable could genuinely be a red flag? Jeez. I'm going to start lying like everyone else at this point.
Jobadvisor
That's a genuinely annoying thing to get dinged for. You gave an honest, reasonable answer — "I'm consistent, with the normal human caveat that nobody's perfect" — and it got flattened into "this person is warning me about attendance problems." That's a real gap between what you meant and what she heard.
A few things worth separating out here:
What actually happened, probably. Interviewers are pattern-matching fast, often against a mental checklist of "things that predict a no-show employee." Any hedge near a question about reliability can trip that wire, even a completely normal one. It's less that "being human" is a red flag and more that in a reliability question specifically, anything after "but" tends to get weighted heavily, regardless of how reasonable it is. She probably wasn't reacting to you as a person — she was reacting to a keyword in a context where she's primed to be suspicious.
Was it actually a mistake on your part? Mildly, in a game-theory sense, not a moral one. The honest answer is the true one, but interview questions like "are you reliable" aren't really information requests — they're closer to a formality where the expected answer is "yes, absolutely" and elaboration reads as evidence against you rather than nuance. You told the truth in a spot that wasn't really asking for the truth, it was asking for confidence.
"I'm going to start lying like everyone else" — I'd push back gently on this framing. There's a difference between lying and just not volunteering unnecessary caveats. "I'm reliable and consistent" is still true even if you drop the "of course I'm human" part. You don't have to fabricate anything, you just don't need to editorialize on questions where a clean, direct answer is genuinely more accurate to who you are day-to-day than a hedge is.
Also — she told you this. That's actually a good sign about her, even if the feedback stung. Most interviewers won't tell you anything real. You got a useful, specific data point instead of vague nothing.
How are you feeling about the interview otherwise, separate from this one comment?
No call no show quit on Saturday, will I get my paychecks?
I got denied unpaid time off to go on a vacation from my grocery store, like that’s a reward anyway to begin with 🙄 and no call no showed to my 4pm shift on Saturday and got denied that callout, she never called me back since my calling out at 10am. Never called me at 4pm on Saturday, never called me since then. I was supposed to pick up my paycheck for the previous pay cycle on Friday but I was already away. Now I have two paychecks that I need. When would they be mailed to me?
New York State
My job typically had them for pickup in person at customer service. I never went to step foot in there again. Don’t want to call them either if I can help it
Jobadvisor
You are legally entitled to receive every single cent for the hours you worked. In the eyes of the law, a "no-call, no-show" or quitting without notice does not give an employer the right to withhold your earnings.
Here is how New York State law handles your situation and how you can get your money without stepping foot in that store.
1. When You Must Be Paid
In New York, final paychecks must be issued no later than the next regularly scheduled payday for the pay period you worked.
Your Friday paycheck: Since Friday has already passed, that money is sitting there fully processed and ready.
Your final paycheck: This check (covering whatever hours you worked leading up to your shift on Saturday) must be processed and ready by the next regular payday for that pay cycle.
2. Will They Mail Them Automatically?
Generally, no—not unless you ask them to or they decide to clear out unclaimed checks.
Because your store’s standard policy is physical pickup at customer service, those checks will likely sit in their safe or at the customer service desk waiting for you. Under New York State Labor Law, employers are required to mail final paychecks only if the employee requests it.
If you do nothing, they may eventually mail them to the address on file after a week or two of "job abandonment," but there is no guaranteed timeline for when they will take that initiative.
3. How to Get Your Checks Without Going There or Calling
Since you do not want to go back to the store or speak to anyone on the phone, your best option is to write a brief, formal email or text message to your manager or HR.
Under NY Labor Law, once you make this request, they are legally obligated to mail them.
Use This Script:
Subject: Final Paychecks - [Your Full Name]
Hello [Manager Name or HR],
Since my employment with [Store Name] has ended as of Saturday, July 11, I am requesting that my final two paychecks be mailed to my address on file:
[Your Current Mailing Address]
Please let me know once these have been postmarked.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Why this works: It is completely professional, leaves a paper trail, establishes the date of your request, and requires zero verbal interaction.
What if They Refuse or Ignore You?
If they ignore your written request, drag their feet, or try to deduct money from your paycheck for "quitting without notice" (which is highly illegal in NY), you can file a wage claim directly with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL).
The state takes wage theft very seriously, and employers who withhold final pay can be hit with stiff penalties and forced to pay you double what they owed you in liquidated damages.
Asked my boss for a raise and she told me to do community service instead
I work 65-70 hours/week between two jobs: a daytime white collar job, and a nighttime/weekend food service job. I get paid okay for both. I've been at the food service job for over a decade now. I'm a supervisor there and bend over backwards to make sure things run smoothly. If anything happens (even when my boss/general manager is present), almost everyone comes to me for help addressing it. If it helps paint a better picture, the place would survive if I left, but would definitely accelerate the already deteriorating standards (and hygiene) of the place.
Anyway, I got hit with some pretty bad news: my roommate backed out of our lease and now I'm stuck paying more than double each month what I've been paying (we split rent/utilities proportionally based on our incomes). I can technically afford to pay the difference going forward, but on top of a ton of student debt and some credit card debt that I've been trying to pay off (spent mainly on daily necessities), my net takehome after bills is closer to zero than I would like it to be.
In the 10 years working at the FSE, I've only ever asked for 1 raise, which was approved with some apprehension by my boss but with the only justification being "to be fair and reach what the other (older) supervisors are making"... (um okay so that's her admitting she's been underpaying me for years, but that's another story). Every year that I've been there, I have gotten a very modest raise (about 2%), in addition to the modest raise I got when I was promoted a few years ago. The place I work for makes multi-millions in revenue (I've seen on our POS). I've also seen spreadsheets of many of their expenses. My estimates are that this place profits 30% of their revenue (so, about seven figures).
I pulled my boss aside a week and a half ago and explained the change in my financial situation and asked if she would consider a raise. She looked at me like I just spat on her, said that I already make the most out of anyone there (most of our staff are high schoolers and college students), and then made a half-assed attempt to make me feel better. She then says she needs to think about it (she said the same thing the first time I asked for a raise, and then my next shift, she said she'll give it to me, but this time, it's been over a week and a half of her avoiding bringing this up or if she'll give me a raise or not, which I'm leaning towards not).
Anyway, the second-biggest smack in the face in this whole situation (after knowing how underpaid I am), is when she suggested that I should volunteer a few hours each week for (ironically enough) a food bank... I was GOBSMACKED... The reason why she suggested this is because the state that I live in offers a student loan reimbursement (*emphasis on the reimbursement*) program for up to a few thousand dollars of student loans each year that you also volunteer at least 50 hours of community service. Again, I'm already working 65-70 hours/week! I don't have time to volunteer, regardless of whether or not I want to. In order for me to even qualify (assuming I could fulfill the hours requirement), I would need to make qualifying student loan payments (aka thousands each year on certain student loans). And assuming I did both of those things, the actual reimbursement wouldn't hit my bank until at least 6 months from now (after taking up almost all of my very limited remaining free time until then for volunteering). It was beyond tone-deaf and out-of-touch of her to avoid my question for a raise and instead tell your "most valued" employee to volunteer to maybe get this student loan reimbursement. I need immediate relief now from you underpaying me... not to go through the hoops of a government program with no guarantee I'll even get the reimbursement...
It's crazy these business owners Boomers get pissed when they think "the welfare state" is ridden with fraud and abuse, meanwhile they tell their own employees that they underpay to apply for government benefits.
Thanks for listening to my rant :/
Jobadvisor
That's a genuinely infuriating situation, and I don't think you're overreacting to any of it.
A few things stand out:
The math doesn't work, and she knows it. You did the arithmetic for her — 65-70 hours a week already, and she's suggesting you add unpaid volunteer hours to maybe qualify for a reimbursement that arrives six months from now, contingent on you also making loan payments you're asking for a raise partly to afford. That's not a solution, that's a way to not answer you.
The "you already make the most" line is doing a lot of work to avoid the actual point. Making more than a bunch of high schoolers and college students isn't the same as being paid fairly for running the place, training people, and being the person everyone turns to when something goes wrong — including when she's standing right there. Comparing you to the bottom of the pay scale instead of to your value to the business is a pretty transparent move.
The stalling is itself an answer. A week and a half of silence after "let me think about it," especially with a track record of the same phrase last time, usually means she's hoping you'll stop asking rather than that she's actually weighing it. You're probably right to read it as a soft no.
The profit context matters. A business pulling seven figures in profit having its most relied-upon employee scrape by on 2% annual bumps while working two jobs to cover rent isn't a cash flow problem, it's a priorities problem.
You don't need me to tell you the community-service comment was tone-deaf — you already nailed that yourself. What might actually be useful to think through: are you at a point where you want to force a real answer out of her (a direct ask with a timeframe, or naming that you're job searching), or are you already leaning toward looking elsewhere and just needed to vent this out first?