As graduation approaches, the seniors at VHS are forced to think more and more about their future plans. For most of us, the college application process is just about done. For now, all that’s left for us is the waiting, hoping, and wishing.

Whether you know where you will be for the next four years or not, you have probably started to think about what you want to study in college. Students have always been encouraged to choose a major and career path that they will be happy with, something they have a real passion for. But with today’s economy getting tighter and job market shrinking, some students are beginning to take a different path.

In December 2013, a team of professors at Georgetown University researched the country’s highest-paying college majors for recent graduates. The list below includes the 10 highest-paying college majors, with the average salaries of employees coming out of college:

1. Petroleum Engineering: $120,000
2. Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences and Administration: $105,000
3. Mathematics and Computer Science: $98,000
4. Aerospace Engineering: $87,000
5. Chemical Engineering: $86,000
6. Electrical Engineering: $85,000
7. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering: $82,000
8. Mechanical Engineering: $80,000
9. Metallurgical Engineering: $80,000
10. Mining and Mineral Engineering: $80,000

To those who dream of money and wealth, this is probably a very intriguing list. However, these majors are actually some of the least popular among U.S college students. The Princeton Review recently conducted a similar study; yet with one significant difference. According to the Princeton Review, the list they put together is comprised of majors that “offer unique intellectual challenges and develops skill sets that will be applicable to various careers.” The list is as follows:

1. Business Administration & Management
2. Psychology
3. Nursing
4. Biology/Biological Sciences
5. Education
6. English Lang/Lit
7. Economics
8. Communications Studies/Speech Communication
9. Political Science & Government
10. Computer & Information Sciences

Does this information influence where Verona students are heading?  Senior Nick Cariani says he plans to major in finance.  While finance is not on the list of highest paying majors, Nick does not seem too worried.

“I know finance isn’t exactly what it used to be, but if you land a job on Wall Street or with a big company, you’re set,” he says.

Similarly, senior Madison Misuro plans to major in communications. When asked if she was worried about paying debts and making an easy living after college, she simply shook her head. “I’ll worry about it when the time comes. Communications is an interesting major, and I’ll get a good job if I work hard enough.”

On the other hand, Sean Buzaid, a senior at Seton Hall Prep and Verona native, might be going in a different direction, and letting this knowledge influence him. Sean has already been accepted to Boston College, and Texas A&M, and received a large scholarship to Southern Methodist.

“I’m leaning towards [Texas A&M] because it has the petroleum engineering major. Honestly, the subject intrigued me because I know it is a huge hit on the job market right now,” he explained. “Some students choose a major they really love, but I’d rather choose something I like that I know I can make an easy-living off of.”