By Areesha Velani

When choosing my intended major, Psychology, I was lost between which path to take. I had enjoyed experimental subjects throughout my high school years such as Biology and Chemistry, but I was also curious to explore unique classes such as Sociology and Philosophy. With multiple courses and little initial guidance, I was torn between the two routes.

After conducting further research with my professors and guidance counselors, I chose the route of arts. Again, there is no “right” option; rather, it is more about preference. I was told to choose based on my interests, because aside from my core classes, I will have flexibility in my pre-requisites and electives. Aside from my main Psychology courses, do I want to partake in History and Political Science or Organic Chemistry and Physics? Lacking a dire curiosity to take on mathematics-focused subjects, I chose the Arts route and traversed my interests through its variety of topics.

There are perks to each route. Oftentimes, for international students, a Bachelor of Science can lead to longer periods of work without sponsorship after graduation, whereas Arts students are granted only one year. When actively partaking in recruiting season, some companies tended to show interest with those with a Science background, as they would have quantitative and critical thinking skills offered by many of the numeric-based classes.

As for the Arts program, the companies that interviewed me were impressed with the classes that taught me skills such as problem solving and communication. I was able to enroll in distinctive courses that taught me information on an array of topics, from the human body to societal behavior. For me, this seemed more applicable, as I was working towards pursuing a job that directly related to Psychology and inter-human relations. I am grateful for the route I took, but regardless, both directions would be useful and informational for me in the long run.

Oftentimes, there are not two options offered. For some majors such as Chemistry and Physics, it is common for it to be solely conducted in the Science sector rather than offering an Arts alternative. Subjects such as Cinematography and Sociology are usually only offered through an Arts route and include elective and prerequisite courses that compliment its content and assist its study to be suitably well-rounded. American universities thrive on their ability to provide students with a balanced structure, even for those who have a narrow focus and solid line of study. Even for those who major in a content-heavy course such as Computer Science, they might still be asked to take unrelated courses such as athletics or introductory courses in other fields that mildly align with the major itself. This unique tendency of studying in the United States gives students the opportunity to explore outside their direct field and further broaden their comfort zone.

So, do you choose Arts or Science? To answer this question, I advise you to revise your course options for the full four years and compare the choices between both routes. Furthermore, keep in mind that Science students are often granted longer opportunities to work through their F1 visas without sponsorship. Explore your fascinations and choose the right path for you!

- Hale Education Group