Remember your senior year of high school, when all anyone could ask you was "Where are you going to college?"
Well, now that you're in college, the questions keep on coming, but this time you get it from every new person you meet (which is a lot your freshman year): "What's your major?"
If you're undeclared, that gets to be a pretty short conversation. And eventually you do have to settle on a major. So how are making the major decision? Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Take some career aptitude tests. Check with your academic advisor to see if he or she can recommend some good tests. You can find a number of these tests online, but beware — they may be commercially linked, so it's probably best to get some advice before diving in.
- Ask the people who know you best. I majored in journalism on the recommendation of my brother. I loved to write, so I don't know why journalism hadn't occurred to me. I guess at the time, I wasn't thinking about my talents as much as I was thinking about what I "should" major in to get a good job.
Entertain the ideas of those who see you from the outside looking in. They shouldn't make your decision, of course, but they may have some good insight for you. - Explore potential jobs. Check out potential jobs as a way to explore different majors. Do some volunteer work, get an internship, do some job-shadowing — and always ask people what they majored in. You're likely to find some surprises along the way — and you might get some career-path ideas.
- Do some research. Thumb through your school's course catalog, check around online, browse some career-books, read articles and reports about fast-growing career fields and list anything that catches your eye. It's a good way to gauge your interests, and remind yourself what's out there.
- Know what you're getting into. As you're making your decision, definitely follow your heart and your talents, but be realistic and know what you're getting into. Think not just about the major but about the career path you plan to follow. Consider what jobs in the field will pay and compare it to what you're paying (and borrowing) for school. Be sure that reality plays some part in your decision and that you're keeping the future in mind.
Have you decided on a major? How did you make your decision?
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