Famous People Quiz
The next few pages will test your ability to
figure out what celebrities majored in what
academic subjects.
This is your handout-Famous People of Left-Major on
Right-Place your answers in the middle-3 minutes
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CELEBRITIES:
1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Gene Simmons
3. Steven Spielberg
4. Bruce Lee
5. Jodie Foster
6. Mick Jagger
7. Tiger Woods
8. Steve Martin
9. David Letterman
10. Hugh Heffner
11. Paul Newmann
12. Arnold Schwarzenegger
13. Isaiah Thomas
14. John Elway
15. Thurgood Marshall
16. David Robinson
17. Montel Williams
18. Bill Clinton
19. Brooke Shields
20. Michael Jordan
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MAJORS?????
Economics
History
Philosophy
Psychology
Communication Arts
Speech and Drama
Education
Criminal Justice
Film
Business
Speech and Drama
Mathematics
Dentistry
French
Engineering
English
Literature
Telecommunications
International Studies
Social Work
#1
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Television talk show host Oprah Winfrey
majored in speech and drama at Tennessee
State University in Nashville, which she
attended on full scholarship. Upon graduation,
Winfrey became the first black woman to
anchor a local television news program in
Nashville.
-The correct answer: Speech and Drama
#2
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Gene Simmons's flamboyant on-stage antics
with his band "Kiss", may come in some way
from his earlier academic pursuits. He
majored in education at Richmond College on
Staten Island, New York. After graduating,
Simmons briefly taught elementary school in
New York's Spanish Harlem neighborhood.
-The correct answer: Education
#3
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Celebrated film director Steven Spielberg holds
several honorary doctorates from universities around
the world, in addition to three Academy Awards and
a slew of box office records. But he had never
finished his bachelor's degree, in film and electronic
arts, until 2002. Spielberg completed coursework
from California State University, Long Beach by
writing term papers and completing general
education requirements, all through independent
study.
-The correct answer: Film
#4
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Martial-arts superstar Bruce Lee studied
philosophy for three years at the University of
Washington in Seattle, before he dropped out
to teach kung fu. In addition to performing
almost superhuman feats of martial arts in his
films, Lee wrote several books, including Tao
of Jeet Kune Do, Lee's own philosophy of
martial-arts technique.
-The correct answer: Philosophy
#5
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Academy Award-winning actor Jodie Foster
graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's
degree in literature from Yale University. She
is a two-time Academy Award-winning
American actress, director, and producer.
-The correct answer: Literature
#6
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Mick Jagger was a business student at the rigorous
London School of Economics when he, Keith
Richards, and Brian Jones formed The Rolling
Stones. He continued his studies even after the band
started performing professionally, but his businessschool training must have helped him recognize a
promising opportunity, because he soon quit school
to devote himself full time to becoming a rock 'n' roll
star.
-The correct answer: Business
#7
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Golfing powerhouse Tiger Woods studied
economics at Stanford University. Given the
size of Wood's tournament winnings and
product endorsement contracts, let's hope he
concentrated on macroeconomics.
-The correct answer: Economics
#8
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Steve Martin majored in philosophy at Long
Beach College (now California State
University--Long Beach) and at UCLA. He
even briefly considered becoming a
philosophy professor before turning to
comedy.
-The correct answer: Philosophy
#9
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David Letterman majored in
telecommunications while at Ball State
University in his home state of Indiana. It's
unclear whether or not Stupid Human Tricks
formed a part of Letterman's senior thesis.
-The correct answer: Telecommunications
#10
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Hugh Hefner, who founded Playboy magazine,
majored in psychology at the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign, where he presumably learned
a thing or two about the average American male
psyche. Even with two additional minor courses of
study in writing and art, Hefner doubled his course
load and graduated in just two and one-half years.
-The correct answer: Psychology
#11
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Actor, businessperson, and philanthropist
Paul Newman received a bachelor's degree
in English from Kenyon College in Gambier,
Ohio. After graduating, Newman went to the
Yale School of Drama and the Actors Studio
to study acting.
-The correct answer: English
#12
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Body
Builder/Actor/Governor (University of
Wisconsin)
He is an Austrian-American bodybuilder,
actor, and politician, currently serving as the
38th Governor of the U.S. state of California.
-The correct answer: Economics
#13
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Isaiah Thomas-Famous basketball player
from Indiana University. Thomas, a 6-1, 185
pound point guard, ranks as one of the better
players of all-time. From 1981 to 1994
Thomas had a good career with the Detroit
Pistons.
-The correct answer is Criminal Justice
#14
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John Elway NFL quarterback (Stanford) for
the Denver Broncos. Won NFL
championships and most valuable player.
For 16 amazing seasons – 234 games that
included a NFL-record 148 wins – John
Elway was the undisputed leader of the
Denver Broncos.
-The correct answer is Economics
#15
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Thurgood Marshall, U.S. Chief Justice
The first African American to serve on the
Supreme Court of the United States. Prior to
becoming a judge, he was a lawyer who was
best remembered for his high success rate in
arguing before the Supreme Court and for the
victory in Brown v. Board of Education.
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-The correct answer is Dentistry
#16
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David Robinson, NBA basketball great for the San
Antonio Spurs. Won numerous NBA
titles. Robinson is often considered one of the
greatest centers to ever play the game. A born-again
Christian, Robinson is also an amateur musician who
enjoys playing various instruments at home. His
nicknames include "The Admiral", based on his
service as an officer in the United States Navy.
-The correct answer is Mathematics
#17
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Montel Williams, famous talk show
host. Diagnosed with MS.
Williams served on board the USS Sampson during
the U.S. invasion of Grenada. His awards include the
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, two Navy
Expeditionary Medals, two Humanitarian Service
Medals, a Navy Achievement Medal, two Navy
Commendation Medals and two Meritorious Service
Medals. He retired after 22 years of military service
as a lieutenant.
The correct answer is Engineering
#18
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Bill Clinton, 42nd President of the United States,
serving from 1993 to 2001. Before his presidency,
Clinton served nearly twelve years as the 50th and
52nd Governor of Arkansas. He was the thirdyoungest person to serve as president, behind
Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, and is
considered the first baby boomer
president. Attended Georgetown University,
University College, Oxford and Yale Law School
-The correct answer is International Studies
#19
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Brooke Shields, Actress. Career as a model
began in the late 1960s as an infant, and she
continued as a successful child model
throughout the 1970s. In early 1980 (at age
14), Shields was the youngest fashion
model to ever appear on the cover of the
top fashion publication Vogue
magazine.
-The correct answer is French
#20
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Michael Jordan, star basketball player from
NC. Widely considered one of the greatest
basketball players of all time, he became one
of the most effectively marketed athletes of
his generation and was instrumental in
popularizing the NBA (National Basketball
Association) around the world in the 1980s
and 1990s.
-The correct answer is Mathematics
ANSWERS:
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1. Oprah Winfrey-Speech
and Drama
2. Gene SimmonsEducation
3. Steven Spielberg-Film
4. Bruce Lee-Philosophy
5. Jodie Foster-Literature
6. Mick Jagger-Business
7. Tiger Woods-Economics
8. Steve Martin-Philosophy
9. David LettermanTelecommunications
10. Hugh Heffner-Psychology
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11. Paul Newmann-English
12. Arnold SchwarzeneggerEconomics
13. Isaiah Thomas-Criminal
Justice
14. John Elway-Economics
15. Thurgood MarshallDentistry
16. David RobinsonMathematics
17. Montel WilliamsEngineering
18. Bill Clinton-International
Studies
19. Brooke Shields-French
20. Michael JordanMathematics
How Many Did You
Get Correct?
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If 15 or above stand up
If 14 correct stand up
If 13 correct stand up
If 12 correct stand up
Summary
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Choose a major you truly enjoy-your career will
happen
Remember, many times your career is not directly
related to your major
From the famous people list you can see how a
college degree can lead into a wide variety of careers
It is ok to be undecided but come and see us in
Career Services so we can help you decide on a
major
Our Resources to Help You
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Make an Appointment-Click here
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Degree In” page-Click here
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