How to Choose Your College Major?

Choosing a college major is definitely not an easy decision to make and it needs a lot of preparation. Since it is a decision that will shape your future, you should consider several factors such as your skills, your passion, your dream job, and your interests. This blog will help you choose your college major easily. 

How to Choose Your College Major?

1. Find Your Passion

What are you passionate about? Are you in love with music, drawing, art, languages, or even technology? Make a list of what you love the most and consider how much time you are willing to invest in each subject.  Let’s say you like numbers and calculations the most, then Accounting is a major you should consider, or maybe you love computers and programming, then Computer Science is the preferred choice. Find out what is your passion and consider it as a major and a career path. 

2. Choose a University 

When searching for a major, you must also consider your university choice. First, you have to do some research on the best universities or academic institutions offering the majors you would like to study and compare them. Secondly, you should check out each place’s facilities, quality of education, and ranking to make sure they will give you the necessary knowledge and skills for success. You should also check the fees to see which one best suits your budget. It's also important to check employment rates and graduate jobs. Another point to consider is how far away you are willing to move to get a college major.

3. Seek Advice

According to a U.S. News survey conducted in 2017, 84% of students sought advice from people with experience in a field and 82% received it from an employer or coworker and both rated it as helpful. You can also seek advice from your school counsellor as they can tell you more about program offers and college majors. Here are 20 questions to ask your counsellor that you can use if you don’t know where to start. Reach out to some industry professionals and alumni for advice.  Try to contact the university to address any concerns you may have and attend their open days to find out all the details you need. This will help you make a decision based on insights from a credible, trusted source.

4. Calculate Possible Salaries

Conduct research to check which majors are less or more likely to lead to a high paying job. If you’re going to have a student loan that needs to be paid off, then you should consider majors that offer high salaries in the future. Search for the average salary after graduation and update your preferences accordingly. 

Still Confused? Consider A Double Major! 

If you still can’t decide on one major and feel like it is not enough for you, you can choose to pursue a double major to widen your horizons. A double major will give you extra skills and knowledge on different subjects. However, you should know that it will require twice the effort. On the other hand, if you choose a  major that doesn’t satisfy your interests or career choice, consider pairing it with a minor. A minor is just like a major, but they differ in the number of classes as they are less than those required in a major. 

What If I Didn’t Like The Major I Chose? Can I Change Majors?

That’s a question that crosses every student’s mind, and the answer is yes! It’s totally fine if you picked a major then when you started studying it, you felt like you don’t like it or that it’s not the right choice for you. In fact, many students change their major and some might even do it more than once. However, it would mean taking more than the traditional years to get a Bachelor’s Degree, but this shouldn’t stop you if you feel unhappy with the major you’ve chosen. This is actually what’s great about university if you’re not happy with what you’re studying, you don’t get stuck with it and you can always switch!

What If I Didn’t Decide on A Major?

If you’re still undecided after researching and talking to experts about what you should choose as a college major, don’t sweat it! You don’t have to start college right after finishing high school; it’s not an easy step and you should be sure of what you’re going to study. Some colleges offer the opportunity to take classes in subjects that you might like, and many don’t require students to decide on a major until sophomore year! This gives you time to explore all your options and interests until you find what’s right for you. Another option is to take internships to get real hands-on experience or to volunteer in activities you like. You can also take a gap year to take a break and think about what you want to do in life. You can use that time to travel and explore the world to clear your mind and when you come back, it will be easier to make a decision. Get to know the pros and cons of taking a gap year. 

At the end of the day, while choosing a college major is hard, you should always try to do what feels right for you. If you feel confused, you can follow these steps to help you decide on a major. Remember to always follow your passion and interests, and never let anyone tell you otherwise.