Selecting A Major

Selecting a major in college is an important decision that should not be taken lightly. It can be stressful. The decisions you make now can affect your career options and your future. But even if you don’t know exactly what major to choose, you should still go to college. The job market is very competitive and a college education will help make you more marketable and will expand your career options.

Some students grow up knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives; some enter college with no idea of what they want to do, and most probably fall somewhere in between. A large number of freshmen start college undeclared or undecided and many switch majors once, twice or even three times before landing on one that "fits." College is a time to learn who you are. You may discover where your true interests lie. You may experience a complete shift in your priorities. Some students start off wanting to be plastic surgeons and end up social workers. Taking a certain class may spark an interest that you never knew you had.

Don’t let others pick your major for you. If your parents want you to be a doctor and you faint at the sight of blood, you probably should pursue a different major. If your lawyer father wants you to follow in his footsteps, but you want to work for the Environmental Protection Agency, don’t put your dreams aside to appease someone else.

If you have a pretty good idea of what you would like to major in, it may help you decide on a school. Some colleges specialize in certain areas or offer programs of study not offered by other schools. If you plan to pursue a science-heavy major, you probably don’t want to choose a liberal arts college. If you don’t know what you want to study, you may want to pick a school that offers a wide variety of different majors.

So, if you’re not sure what you want to major in - don’t freak out. You have some time to decide. Not declaring a major until sophomore year probably will not set you back. Most of the classes you take freshman year fulfill general educational requirements and prerequisites and are standard despite your major. If you have no idea what you want to study, try to schedule yourself for a few different types of classes and talk with an academic advisor. The sole job of an academic advisor is to help students plan their college careers and they may be able to offer you valuable advice or insight.

Listed below are some things to look at when evaluating a choice of major:

• Evaluate your interests - What do you love to do? Taking classes that actually interest you will make college more enjoyable and will help motivate you to succeed.
• Evaluate your strengths - What are you best at? If you are horrible at math and science, you may not want to major in rocket science.
• Do some research - Research different majors and career paths on the internet or at libraries, etc. If you are already accepted to college, examine the schedule requirements and class selection for each major.
• Talk to other students - Find out what other students think about the majors they have chosen. Do they enjoy their classes? Will they switch majors?
• Talk to your high school counselor or college academic advisor- Their job is to help students plan for school and their futures. They have worked with many students and may help you discover your interests or narrow down your options.
• Take an online personality test - Although personality tests are not 100% accurate, taking one may help you gauge what kind of temperament you have and what careers may best fit your personality.
• Analyze your future career goals- Where do you see yourself in 10 years? In 20? Are you looking for a job that provides a large paycheck or a job that you may find more rewarding? Are you willing to travel or put in overtime or would you rather have more time for family, etc.?