Why I Love Being a COMM Major

By Jordan Crayton

Since the dawn of time, Communication has been regarded as the ‘easy major.’ Ever since I set foot on this campus, I have dreaded telling others my major for fear of the condescending sigh that follows. Most people aren’t even sure what Communication is (for reference, it is the study of learning how and why people communicate about different things), which furthers their disdain for the major. So, as someone surrounded by students in STEM, as well as people majoring in topics with respected professions (ie, law and government), it’s been hard for me to feel like my major matters. But as I think about it more, I realize that I’m so lucky to be exactly where I am. Here are 3 reasons why I love being a COMM major:

Breadth

Communication is known for being broad, and Cornell’s department is no exception. Even though outsiders don’t see this as a good thing, it’s something that is honestly really important. There are so many career paths you can go into: advertising, PR, film, journalism, and even unexpected fields, like environmental research or public health. The things you learn in the Communication program can translate almost anywhere, and you are never restricted to doing just one thing. It’s great for people who are indecisive or love variety. You’ll learn something new every day, and if you end up changing your mind on your profession down the road, you’ll easily be able to find a different path onto the next.

Flexibility

This is probably my favorite thing about being a COMM major, and it is a very underrated benefit. My major requirements make up less than half of the mandatory 120 credits, meaning I can take up electives in any discipline. It allows me to explore minor options and classes I never even thought I would take. I always say Communication is as hard as you make it since you can pick whether you want to take less strenuous classes to supplement your major requirements or ones that require more attention. Another plus is that since I have more choice in what I can take, I can shape my schedule so that I can get more sleep daily.

The Content

The content, over anything else, is why I chose my major. For people who are pop culture buffs like me, it’s fun to talk about things going on in the world. It’s probably one of the only majors where you are expected to know about the Super Bowl ads and dissect clips from Friends. On my first day of my Intro to Communication class, we even talked about the cultural relevance of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s WAP. We have also tackled more serious topics in my classes, like the use of propaganda during wars, and how media has shaped perceptions and discussions of race. I love being able to learn more about the media and how it has such a huge impact on how we communicate with each other. Despite the extremely long essays (one time I had a 10-page, single-spaced essay, ouch) and extensive readings, it is worth it to be able to have these important conversations. I strongly believe that everyone should take at least one COMM class because of this.

Overall, it’s really important to find a major that you love. After all, this is something that you will be studying for the rest of your college career. I’m glad the Communication major turned out to be where I feel most comfortable. I am able to learn about topics I am passionate about, as well as exploring new ones. Cornell offers so many different classes, majors, and minors, and everyone should explore them as much as they can because you never know what areas you might fall in love with.