You Don't Have To Decide

Deciding on a college major can be difficult. There are many things to consider. The process is even harder for graduate study. Bad decisions can be hard to unwind.

I knew Dennis at UNM in Albuquerque in 1979/80. He was already unusually-old for a graduate student. Here is an article about Dennis in 2010. He was still in graduate school! He had changed specialties, but was considering changing fields yet again.

Don't let anyone say you have to decide on a college major. Scorn commitment. Indecisiveness is a decision:

Dennis Cohen is a man of many trades. Working toward a Ph.D. in atmospheric physics at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, the last place you might think to find the amicable yet curious scholar is accepting an award at an international film festival.

But the gifted academic is also an avid author whose latest screenplay, “Caroline and Johann: A Love Story,” garnished a prestigious award from the Alaska International Film Awards (AIFA) in July, an honor that Cohen said is attracting celebrities like Marisa Tomei.

A resident of Queens, N.Y., Cohen spends much of his time in Steven’s Life and Light Laboratory, a space filled with chaotic cubicles and paper-jammed desks.

“We’re doing at lot of atmospheric stuff,” Cohen said last week. “The field has applications in global warming.”

Cohen holds two master’s degrees from accredited universities – the University of Wyoming and University of New Mexico – but said he is still unsure which field he will eventually pursue.

“I might switch to another area after I graduate,” the amateur playwright said. “[Atmospheric physics] is very interesting, but too much computer work, which can really get on your nerves. I’d rather use a pencil and paper.”