I'm going to be majoring in photography and I think it's time for a new camera...?

Yep, you need a DSLR. With a limited budget, I'd suggest an Eos, and don't be afraid to buy a good used camera from a reputable dealer. It should come with some lenses. For school, you'll want/need a 50mm 1.8 ($75 used), and the zoom lenses that will probably come with the camera.

I have a friend who is a photography major at a university, the first thing he did was march into the university newspaper and ask to be on staff. It took a while before his photos were printed, but as time goes by and he gets better, more and more of his photos are used! Plus, he's photographed some senior portraits of friends to raise money for new lenses.

Good luck to you.

MAJORING in photography? Are you PAYING for this, as in "college tuition?"

Do NOT waste your money this way!!! Get a degree in business, with a strong background in accounting instead. It will do you more good. How do I know?

I've been in this business 40 years. NOT ONCE did I get an assignment or a job as a photographer because I did or did not have a degree in photography. I've hired other photographers both for myself and for the companies I've worked for as well, and none of the applicants had degrees either. Frankly, I would have been a little suspicious of one anyway, because who knows what junk would have been poured in their innocent little heads by some ivory-tower academic, who never had to please a fat bridezilla?

Think things are different today? I just visited a world-renowned art school. In all other ways I was so impressed that I think I want to move there, but I almost had a meltdown when I saw their portrait photography textbook. It was so loaded with posing errors I wanted to buy them all and start a bonfire.

You want to be a photographer? Start with your cellphone camera. When you can consistently make good pictures with it THEN you move up in camera, not before. Want to learn FAST how to make consistently good pictures? Start charging money for it. Your customers will let you know PRONTO if you're doing it right or not. Then you use the business degree to count your money.