Choosing a major is a difficult decision and many students start college while still being undecided on their major. While going in undecided is an option, having an idea of your major before applying is ideal. That way, you can search for colleges that offer your desired area of study and have a strong program to boot. You owe it to yourself to spend some time exploring college majors and try to identify one that’s best suited for you. Here are 6 things you should consider while exploring college majors, plus some tips for finding the best area of study for you.
When Do You Have to Choose a Major?
Most students will not have to declare a major until the end of their sophomore year of college or the beginning of their junior year of college. However, some competitive majors and colleges will require you to declare your major during the admissions process. This is usually because the major has its own admission requirements. In most cases, you can change your major at a later date if you decide the area of study isn’t for you, but this depends on the school. Always talk to your advisor about changing your area of study before doing so.
6 Things to Consider While Choosing a College
Selecting a major can be a tough choice! Considering these 6 different factors can help you narrow it down.
1. Your Dream Career & Passion
Have you always dreamed of pursuing a particular career? Maybe you dreamed of becoming an architect and designing futuristic or environmentally-friendly buildings? Or perhaps you dreamed of becoming a journalist or a physician? If you are passionate about a particular career, the choice of major is pretty straightforward. You’ll have to choose a major that will qualify you for a career in your chosen field. Choosing a major you’re truly passionate about can be exhilarating. You’ll enjoy the coursework and be motivated to complete your assignments. Knowing that you’ll use the skills you’re learning in your area of study in the workforce is also a big incentive.
However, it’s important to do your research. Some careers require very specific majors and concentrations. You don’t want to get halfway through a program and realize you only studied something adjacent to your dream career, not the needed major.
If you are undecided about your dream career, start by shortlisting the top five most suitable careers. Then explore each one further till you have eliminated all but one. Consider what’s really important to do in a career. What would give you the most satisfaction and fill you with joy? What kind of work environment would you feel most comfortable in? Answering these questions will help you make more realistic career choices.
2. Your Strengths & Weaknesses
Assessing your strengths and weaknesses is important. Unfortunately, students usually overlook this aspect while exploring majors and careers. While you do want to choose an area of study you’re passionate about, you also want to ensure that it plays to your strengths. You may dream of pursuing a career as an architect, but if you’ve always struggled with algebra, geometry, and trigonometry in high school, college could become an endless struggle for you.
Choosing a major based on your abilities boost your confidence and motivate you to perform well in college. Getting good grades will further boost your confidence and motivation. All of this will set you on the path towards a successful career.
3. Average Median Salary
There are some people who may scoff when you talk about the earning potential of a major. It may seem like a boring, materialistic reason to choose a major. But the fact is you cannot afford to disregard factors such as salary potential. College is expensive. Most students graduate with a mountain in student loan debt. If your chosen career doesn’t pay well, you’ll never get out of debt. You need to earn enough to afford your monthly payments while also enjoying a decent quality of life.
Careers within STEM, architecture, medicine or business are the highest paying. Teaching on the other hand does not pay very well. Of course, you don’t want to think about money in exclusion. You should weigh it against your passions and abilities.
4. Annual Job Openings
Employability is another factor to consider when choosing a major. It’s important to have a realistic picture of your job prospects after graduation. You may want to major in Roman military history or Greek mythology but what job prospects do these majors offer? You cannot afford to choose a major based solely on your interests. Regardless of anything else, you still have to pay back the thousands of dollars in student loans that you took to fund your degree.
You’ll have to reset your major exploration if your selected major has low job prospects. Start by checking out the annual job opening rates in different fields. This will give you an overall idea of which professions are facing shortages and which have low job projections. Use this information to weigh the major you’re interested in against the employability that that major offers. You may have to compromise and choose your 2nd or 3rd preferred major if your first choice offers poor job prospects.
5. Minors
A college minor can complement your chosen major, round out your degree, or expand your knowledge of a particular passion. The minor you choose can lend weight to your resume when you apply for a job after graduation. For example, let’s say you choose to major in Business. Choosing a minor in marketing can help to boost your employability.
6. Number of Careers Related to the Major
Some majors may lead to a diverse range of careers. Others may qualify you for very few specialized careers. Take Kinesiology for example. Majoring in Kinesiology will qualify for very few, niche professions. Make sure you’re truly interested in that particular career if you choose a niche major.
How Can You Find the Right Major and Career for You?
Sometimes it isn’t always clear what major you need to enter your desired career field. Or you’re undecided and can’t choose. Here are some tips to help you narrow it down:
1. Conduct Research
Reading about majors and careers will help broaden your horizon and introduce you to many majors you may not have considered. You may also find that a few that you thought were exciting may actually bore you to tears. A few others may involve taking courses that you are likely to struggle with. Starting early will give you plenty of time to dig deep into potential majors and learn more about them.
Research will also help you identify what areas of study are needed for which careers, and give you the information you need to make a well-rounded decision. You might also find that your dream job requires a graduate or doctorate degree.
One way to research potential majors and careers is through College Raptor. Check out our Major Search Tool and Career Finder Tool to get started for free.
2. Try Job Shadowing
Take your exploration one step further with shadowing activities. Shadowing involves following a professional in a particular field for a week or more. A behind-the-scenes look at a career can be eye-opening. Some students even find that the career is nothing like they expected and no longer want to pursue it! Reach out to your college’s Career Center or a potential employer to learn about job shadowing opportunities.
3. Take Part in Summer Activities
Taking up a summer or part-time job, attending community classes or open-to-public classes hosted by local colleges, joining camps, and volunteering are other things you can do to explore college majors. You can absolutely do this during your free time while you’re in high school, too!
Choosing a single major can be a daunting task. Reviewing your own passions, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as the numbers behind various majors and careers can help you gain valuable insight into the areas of study that would best suit you.
Once you know what you want to major in, it’s time to find the best college for you. Not all college major programs are created equally! To find the best school for your aspirations, start with our free College Match tool today.
