Choosing a college major is a major decision—literally. Your college major can affect your career, your earnings potential, and even your job satisfaction later on. I too have had this confusion for quite some time now. There are times when I feel like I’m interested in so a variety of things and then there are times when I feel like I’m not interested in anything and get confused regarding what to study. So I did some research and finally found out. In the rest of this article, I’m going to tell you exactly how do you choose a college major.
There’s no one “right” way to choose a college major, but there are some tried-and-true methods for narrowing down your options and finding a major that’s a good fit for you.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you choose a college major:
1. Consider your interests
Your college major should be something you’re interested in. Even if you’re not very good at what you’re interested in, it’s totally alright. When you’re truly interested in something, you somehow or the other figure out the way to get good at that thing. What drives you then is the hunger, the curiosity to learn. If you’re not sure what you want to major in, start by listing down the things you like to do when others are not watching you or the things you watch on YouTube. Your YouTube feed and how you spend your spare time can give a strong indication of the things you’re interested in and the majors you could choose.
2. Do your research
Once you have a list of potential majors, it’s time to do some research. Reach out and talk to the people in your field of interest. This will not only help you know about the job outlook and earnings potential, but it will also give you a good idea of what the after-university life would be like.
For example, when I was in my sophomore year of high school, I was strongly considering Medicine as my major. It seemed like a good idea because there seemed to be good money, all the social status perks that come along with being a doctor, and the most important factor was that I knew I could do it. Then I talked to some people who were currently pursuing medicine and I also talked to some people who had already graduated and were working in the field. What I then found out was that after I graduated to be a doctor, I’d have to stay and work in a single hospital for longer than I want to.
I am the kind of person who doesn’t really like to stay in a place for too long, so I decided to go with Computer Science which was my other option. It would also provide me with the working-remotely option along with being my field of interest.
The lesson here is to ACTUALLY talk to people in the industry to know whether or not you want to live the way you’d have to live after choosing a major. The more you know about your potential major, the better prepared you’ll be to make a decision.
3. Get advice from others
In addition to doing your own research, it’s also a good idea to get advice from people you trust. Talk to your parents, teachers, and guidance counselors about your college major options. They may have insights that you hadn’t considered. As I mentioned previously, getting advice from others can be really helpful in making a decision. If I hadn’t talked to those people, I’d have (maybe) chosen medicine as my major and would have regretted later for having made that terrible decision.
4. Consider your future goals
Your college major should be something that will help you achieve your long-term goals. If you’re not sure what you want to do after college, that’s OK. Just think about the kind of life you’d like to have, do the research, and choose a major that will help you get there.
5. Keep your options open
Don’t feel like you have to choose a major right away. Many colleges allow students to explore different majors before they make a final decision. And even if you do choose a major, you can always change your mind later on. Also, when you do the research to choose your major, you might come across a major you didn’t know about previously which suits you a lot better than any other major. Therefore, keeping your options and mind open can give you a good shot at choosing the right major.
6. BONUS POINT: Don’t worry about the money
When you’re interested in something and are really passionate about it, you will definitely do great in that field. There’s money in all sectors and majors when you’re in a leading position. So don’t worry about the money, just focus on what you’re interested in and work on it. You’ll do great.
The most important thing is to choose a major that’s right for you. With so many options out there, it may seem daunting at first. But if you take the time to do your research and explore your options, you’re sure to find a college major that’s a perfect fit.
Good luck!
If you have any confusion or questions, feel free to drop them below in the comments. In the mean time, you can read more of these articles from below.
This advice was helpful. I am now more confident on studying Arts at university. Now I know I’ll find a way to earn good income because I’m passionate about arts.
I’m glad it helped!