Find a Job You Really Want In
Summary. To choose your major, you want to know your own values, goals, interests, strengths, and willingness to work hard to become good at certain skills. If you have trouble knowing all this, consider gaining additional experience or be willing to change majors at some point.
Venturing out into the world can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. This is especially true if you are in the beginning phases of your professional life. One of the best ways to approach any situation is to prepare.
When you first arrive at an educational institution, it is an entirely new experience full of many different opportunities. Even though you should be open to new and diverse possibilities, you also have to create a plan for what you want to do once you complete your degree. This begins by choosing the right major.
Key Takeaways:
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Choosing a major should be directed by your passions and goals.
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Passions sometimes come from experience, so it’s ok if you need to develop the skills first before understanding if you are passionate about something.
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College is an investment, so it is valid to consider your financial costs, as well as the time and energy you are willing to commit.
How To Choose Your Major
Before jumping in and choosing a major, you will need to keep a few things in mind. Picking a major is a big step, and it is something that will steer the choices you make throughout your academic career.
There are many different reasons why a person chooses a particular major. Some people know precisely what they want to do for the rest of their lives, while others are still trying to figure out exactly what they want to do, so they pick their major later in their educational careers.
Here is a list of things you might want to consider before declaring your major:
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Are you passionate about the major you are choosing? Ideally, you will want to choose a major that you are passionate about. Before declaring a major, make sure that you are pursuing it out of your own volition.
Believe it or not, many people are pressured into choosing a major they do not want by their friends and family. Loved ones will at times insist you pick something that will ensure that you have a stable paycheck. The problem with this is that many times they do not take your feelings or passions into account.
Though it might be admirable to follow one’s passion, you will need to consider if that is something you will want to do for the rest of your life. Now, this does not mean that the career path you choose will not guarantee you a steady paycheck.
Sometimes passions wane or even change, and you are left with a career you no longer wish to pursue. It might just take a little bit more work than others.
Also consider that passions can come from experience, so it’s ok if you need to develop the skills first before understanding if you are passionate about something.
At the end of the day, you will need to be comfortable with your choice.
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Figure out what you are good at. Sometimes picking a major can be as simple as figuring out what your skills are. For example, if you are good at listening to people and love giving advice, perhaps a psychology career might be the best suited for you.
These are things that you can cover with a career advisor. Remember the old saying, “do something you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” Finding something that fuels your passion and offers you stability will give you the confidence you will need to get far in life.
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What will your salary be? Before picking a major, create a financial pro and con list to see which is the right path for you. Sometimes you might be put in a position where you might have to choose between financial security and pursuing your passion.
There is nothing wrong with choosing a career that will help you pay the bills. However, keep in mind that you do not always have to make this choice. There might be a way where you can both have financial success while still having a way to pursue your dreams.
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Where are you going to study? Location is another thing you will need to consider. Perhaps the institution you are interested in does not have the major you are enthusiastic about. Are you willing to forgo your ideal institution to follow your dream career or vice versa?
You might have to consider relocation if you have chosen a very limited major, like Blacksmithing, as there might be only a handful of institutions that offer this degree. Ensure that when you are researching an institution, you find every college or university that offers your major and create a list that shows you the benefits of each place and how it will advance your academic career.
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How much will this cost and how will you pay for it? When choosing a major, you need to factor in your studies’ overall cost and how you are going to pay for them. Knowing this will also help you ultimately determine whether or not you will be able to relocate for your studies or if you will need to find an institution closer to home. Tuition can range from $5,000 to $50,000 per year.
Typically, should you choose to study out of state, you might run into higher tuition until you become a state’s legal resident. Usually, this means living in the state for six months or longer, changing your mailing address, working for an extended period, etc.
There are many things you will need to take into account when looking for a payment alternative. Having to work during your college years takes a lot of balance and discipline. Try looking for a work-study program that might help you. You might also try applying for a grant or a scholarship program to help you cover the cost of your studies.
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What will the workflow be like? It is important to understand what you will be getting yourself into. Before choosing a major, remember to research every aspect of the career you are applying to. Many newcomers make the mistake of assuming that the career path they have chosen to do for the rest of their lives is a simple task. They believe it is something that will not take too much of their time.
Take a teacher, for example. Many think that this is a career that will not be as time-consuming and have summer and winters off. When the truth is, this career takes a significant amount of time, energy, and sacrifice. Make sure that when you choose a major, it is something you can feel comfortable with and not overworked.
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What are your career goals? Ultimately you will need to ask yourself what your goals are for the future. Some careers might require you to have more than a four-year degree. The field of medicine, for example, will have you complete a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree. If this is the case, you will also need to find the right approach to make it happen.
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Get advice from someone in the field you are interested in or a career advisor. Sometimes when you are unsure of what you want to do, the best thing is to ask someone who has gone through it before.
Asking someone who has gone through this process before might help clarify any doubts you might have. A career adviser is a person that can help you choose the correct courses you will need to reach your goals successfully.
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What if you cannot decide on a major right now? One of the most vital things you should know is that there is nothing wrong with beginning your academic career without having declared a major.
In the end, your college years are a time where you will get to know yourself and discover things you never knew. If you are unsure of what you want to do for the rest of your life, try taking a few courses in the things you are interested in. Who knows, it might be in one of these classes that you find something you are passionate about.
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You can always change your major. Nothing is written in stone if you have begun your studies and have later realized this is not what you want to do – you can always change your major. If and when you decide to make the change, make sure that your courses are transferable to your new major. That way, you can ensure you keep all the courses you need to graduate as quickly as possible.
Choosing A Major FAQs
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What if I don’t know what to major in?
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Use this guide and others to consider what interests you the most.
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Apply to a school as undecided and take a variety of academic courses.
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Take a gap year to gain adult experience to help determine your values, interests, strengths, and skills.
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Pick a major that is interesting to you but easy to change if necessary.
If you do not know what to major in, you can do one of several things:
Life is always about assessing your decisions, but inevitably you have to make a choice. It is good to think about your choices ahead of time, but sometimes you just need to take action. If you don’t know what to major in, do your best to think about who you are, what you value, what you desire, what your good at, and what your willing to work hard to be good at.
It’s OK if you don’t have answer to any of that yet. It may mean that you just need a little more life experience, so take a deep breath and pick the choice that feels right to you.
Choosing the right major is important depending on your values. It is important if you are determined to have a specific career path. Then you need to pick courses that will cater to your desired career. For example, if you are interested in becoming a medical doctor, you will need to take science classes. Majoring in Chemistry, Biology or Pre-Med, can help you in your pursuit of a medical career.
However, choosing the “right” major is less important if you plan to value other parts of your college experience. College is an investment, regardless of whether or not you are footing the bill. You are investing time and energy to grow as person. During this growth you may find that your major is less important than other aspects of your college experience, such as internships or clubs you join.
For many, college is about getting experience whatever that may be, and using that to help them direct their life. Plus in many cases, you can always change your major if you find it is not the right fit for you.
Yes, choosing a major does affect the college you can apply to. Not all schools offer the same major, so if you have decided on a major, then it will determine where you can apply. If you do not know what to major in, consider looking at schools that offer a wide variety of majors and academic experiences. This environment will provide you opportunity to try out different classes to see what you like.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a major can be a difficult step when you are first venturing out into the world. It’s not something you need to rush into. Take the time to try and figure out what you enjoy doing and whether you will want to do it for the rest of your life.
Remember, you can always change your mind. There is no reason you should put yourself through years of studying and working if it is not something you are comfortable with.
References
Author
Conner is a professional writer and editor who has worked in a variety of different industries and media. He is passionate about communication and about making even complex topics accessible to wide audiences. Conner holds a Master of Professional Writing degree from the University of Oklahoma.
