How to Choose Your College Major

Choosing a major can seem overwhelming. It’s a decision that feels life-altering, as if the choice you make today will determine the rest of your life. In reality, choosing a major is actually a liberating experience: it’s the first step on the way to finding out who you are and what you want to do in life. Even so, how do you decide?

What is a major?

When you attend college or university, whether in person or through an online liberal arts associates degree, you choose an area to specialize in. This is your major. It’s important to remember, however, that your major does not permanently determine your future.

Many people change majors part of the way through their studies. Many people eventually get jobs outside of their major. Of course, lots of people get jobs within their field of study, but US Department of Labor statistics reveal that most of us will switch jobs several times during our professional careers.

But this doesn’t mean that your major isn’t important. The area you choose to study in will broaden your horizons and equip you with the flexibility you need to go in whatever direction life takes you, and whatever direction you choose.

Tips for choosing a major

Think about earnings: One thing to consider is the earning potential of different fields of study. At the present moment, the highest earning jobs are in computer science, engineering, government, and economics. Some of these require majors in the STEM fields, while others require the flexibility of a liberal arts degree.

In the future, many people predict that liberal arts degrees will become far more valuable since they were relatively neglected over the last few decades. Yet earning potential is only one small part of the considerations you make when choosing a major.

What makes you happy: If you have the highest paying job in the world, but are utterly miserable, you will not be satisfied in any respect. You need to choose subjects you love and a direction that provides you with a satisfying and fulfilling life.

What are your passions? What do you daydream about? Maybe you aren’t even sure what the answers are yet. If that’s the case, this is the perfect time to start exploring your options. While in college, you’ll have opportunities to explore a variety of fields as you think about what you really want to do.

Consider your values: Choosing a major is not just about what you value and what you are good at. It’s also about what’s most important to your core values. It’s about what makes you the person you are. If you choose a major in line with your core beliefs, you will probably have a more rewarding career than you otherwise might.

However, don’t forget that college is a chance to experiment, put your values to the test, and come out on the other side a stronger, more mature, and more confident person. Your university studies can help you discover who you really are.

Get the right advice: There are some decisions in life that we should not make on our own, and getting higher education is one of them. This is an investment in your future, and you should talk to the people who know you best and who have experience helping students choose a bright future.

Your parents, grandparents, or other adults who are important in your life are the first place to start. You don’t necessarily have to do whatever they think is best, but you are wise to seek out their advice. After that, be sure to talk with guidance counselor and school advisors who can help you make this important life decision.