Choosing a college major is a crucial part of your academic journey. It can be exciting and empowering, as well as overwhelming. Though your major will impact the coursework and jobs you’ll qualify for after graduation, college is an opportunity to explore your interests and learn more about your passions.
Find out how to choose a college major, what to consider, and what happens if you decide you’re not on the right path.
Tips for Selecting a College Major
Picking a major can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry - we’re here to help! Here are some tips to guide your decision:
Think About Your Interests
It may take some self-reflection, but thinking about your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and values can help you decide on the right major. This can help you find some majors that align with who you are and what you want to do.
Research Different Majors and Career Paths
Once you have an idea of what majors may interest you, start doing some research. You can find out about degree requirements, job prospects, earning potential, and more, allowing you to narrow down your choices.
Keep in mind that you can choose a broad field of study without choosing a specific major. For example, if you are thinking about being a nurse, pharmacist, or doctor, you don’t have to decide which right now. You can choose a major that will apply to these programs, such as biology, then focus on a more specific program after you have some courses completed.
Look into Career Prospects
It’s important to understand what career prospects you may have with your future degree. Some jobs require a specific degree, others may require advanced degrees, and others may require no degree at all. Find out about the requirements for the career you want, then you can make a plan for your academic track.
Try Career Assessments
Career assessments can help you narrow down your options and discover your aptitude. While you shouldn’t rely entirely on these tests to choose a major, they can show you what subject areas are your strongest, what careers may interest you, and what personality traits will be an asset in different fields to inform your choice.
Meet with Your Advisor
Part of your college advisor’s job is to help you explore career options and think about your major. They can give you insight into courses and programs related to the majors you’re considering, as well as the requirements for these programs.
Talk to Professors
The professors in different departments have knowledge about the curriculum, research opportunities, and career paths associated with their field. Try to schedule meetings with professors in the departments you’re interested in to talk to them about your major and career aspirations.
Try Job Shadowing
Job shadowing can be a great way to get real-world experience in professions related to your interests. This firsthand experience can give you insights into the day-to-day responsibilities and realities of your career path to inform your decision.
Think About Minors and Double Majors
If you’re undecided between a few subject areas, pursuing a minor or a double major can give you the best of both worlds – especially if you have a passion that isn’t necessarily your best career path.
A minor is similar to a major in that it focuses on one academic area, but it’s not the focus of your degree. It will not involve as many classes, but you can explore those academic interest areas with a credential to show for it.
A double major is an ambitious undertaking, but it can broaden your options for graduate school or career options. Typically, double majors are in unrelated academic fields to give you broad learning experience. While your gen eds may count toward both majors, be prepared that you will have two entirely different sets of major-specific requirements to complete to earn your degree.
Check Major Availability
Not all colleges and universities offer all majors, particularly if they’re not more common options like psychology or business. Make sure you check that your preferred institution offers the program you may be interested in before you make any decisions.
Keep Exploring Interests
Though you may want to choose your gen ed and electives strategically, try to get out of your comfort zone and take courses in subject areas that are unfamiliar or pique your curiosity. Part of college is exploring and discovering your interests, so you never know what elective course may spark a new passion you never knew you had.
Remember That You Don’t Have to Decide Right Now
There’s no pressure to choose a major immediately. Most colleges don’t require students to choose a major until the end of the sophomore year, actually, because gen ed courses are generally similar across degree programs.
If you have a subject area in mind, you can choose a concentration that will give you exposure to some of your major-specific classes before you declare a major. This gives you an opportunity to determine if it’s right for you early on.
Can You Change Your Major in College?
Yes! Part of the reason choosing a major in the beginning feels like such a big decision is because it’s a commitment to the next four years of college and a future career, but it’s not set in stone. You can change your major if you feel that this path isn’t right for you. Make sure you speak with your advisor to understand how changing majors may affect your progress towards graduation.
Supplement with Online Courses
If you want to explore different subjects before deciding on a major – and earn some gen ed credits along the way – online courses can help. Sophia offers a wide range of self-paced online courses in broad subject areas like sciences, social sciences, and business to help you get more diverse academic experience. Start your free trial today!
