Tips for Choosing Your Major

One of the biggest decisions you’ll face in college is choosing your major. For those that are unfamiliar the term, a major is a concentrated area of study. Most traditional universities follow a pattern where students typically spend the first two years doing general studies in the same subjects that you studied in High School like English, math, science, and history. Around your junior year of college you’ll shift your focus to one particular area of your choosing, and you will take a variety of classes in your chosen field of study. Your university may ask you to declare a major even before getting to school, but don’t let that stress you out. You can easily change later on. To help prepare you for such a big decision, I have utilized HESAA and Federal Student Aid as resources for the compiled helpful tips to get you started.

Explore

There are so many ways to explore majors, you can:

• Take a career exploration class

• Visit with your academic advisor

• Seek out students who have already committed to a major that you are considering; find out what they are enjoying about their classes and ask about their career path goals.

• Attend a few meetings of a club or association for any areas of study you are considering

• Take a career aptitude test

• Get to know the professors that teach in the majors that you are considering

The key is to be proactive and to use your resources. The time you spend exploring your options and will really pay off when you are happily settled in a major that is the perfect fit for you.

Consider Your Strengths

What subjects did you particularly enjoy studying in High School? Did you excel in certain subject areas? Do you have any special talents and interests that you should take into consideration? These are all things that you should think about when choosing a major. Studying something that you already love and have a connection with is definitely something to look into. Plus, if you’re having a hard time figuring out where to start looking, going with something that you already know you like is a good place to start.

Look to the Future

One of the easiest ways to select a major is by thinking about the type of career you’d like to have and find majors that will best fit that job or career field. After all, your area of study is designed to give you special education and training expertise in a specific subject area so you will be ready to either pursue additional education or enter the workforce. If you don’t know what you’d like to do for a career then you could consider going with a more general major like Business Management that could help prepare and qualify you for many different jobs. Either way, it’s important to think about the future and consider your career goals when making this decision.

Be Flexible

Most students end up changing their major at some point during their schooling. It’s okay to change your mind. After all, this is a big decision. You don’t want to find yourself studying something that doesn’t inspire and interest you.

Don’t Wait Too Long

While I encourage you to take plenty of time choosing a major, waiting until the last minute to decide can extend your schooling unnecessarily. College can be expensive and any additional semesters that you add on to your schooling can be costly and lead to additional financial burden. That is why I encourage you to start your research early and go into school with a plan for how you will finance your education.

Keep Perspective

Keep in mind that while choosing a major is a big decision, you never know what twists and turns your life will take. Pick one that speaks to both your mind and heart and keep the perspective that you’ll be making the best decision that you can without knowing what the future holds for you. Once you enter the workforce you may find yourself working in a field that is completely different from what you studied in school. This is absolutely fine! The key is to become a lifelong learner and to make the best of your current situation.

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