Tips for Choosing a College Major

It’s probably the top question people ask when you’re starting to think about colleges: what do you want to major in? For some people, it’s an easy answer–they may have been pursuing an internship, started working or shadowing someone in the field, or just already know where their passions lie. Not everyone has an answer and that’s ok. If you’re not sure what major is for you, here are some tips to help you narrow down the choices.

Start with self-reflection

• Look at your strengths. What subjects in school do you excel in? What are you naturally good at?  What subject do you not like in school or struggle with? Also look at your SAT or ACT scores. Do you perform better in math or English? Make a list of these strengths and weaknesses.. 
• Assess your interests. What classes do you find most interesting? What types of subjects do you gravitate towards? If you look back at your course load throughout high school, do you lean more in math and science or do you like writing and the humanities? Are there interests that you’re passionate about that may not be reflected in classes like working with children or environmental causes? 
• Think about the type of career you want? Are you a creative person? Do you want to help others? Are you looking for a high paying profession? Some people are driven toward financial freedom and security. Others care more about just paying the bills, but doing something they are passionate about. Think about what matters most to you.
• Understand your personality. Are you happy working at a desk or do you prefer a more collaborative environment? Do you want an in-person job or would you be happy with remote work? Do you want to talk to people all day or are you happy working solo? Do you need structure or can you get your work done on your own schedule? These questions can help you think about careers that would best fit the type of person you are and what environment will help you thrive.

Do your research

Once you have your self-assessment, go to some college websites and look into the majors and courses that align to your strengths, interests and personality. Do they sound interesting to you? Then look at types of careers that come from those majors. Some colleges highlight students and careers or internships available from that major. Also, connect with professors and professionals in the field to help to understand the type of work involved in that major.

Check out our website for some resources to help you choose a major. Taking a personality quiz or just going through a list of potential majors and creating a list of potential interests can help you focus on what you like and what you don’t. 

Also note that many students change majors. You can also start college undecided and try a variety of classes to help you decide. Get involved in clubs and activities that may align with a potential major as it’s also a good way to meet like-minded students and professors who you can talk to about career aspirations and options.

And even when you decide on a major and graduate, careers will change and you may find yourself like most people in a variety of jobs throughout your life, and that is ok too. Not every path is a straight line. The curves and bumps are inevitable, but each step will be a learning experience to help you explore a variety of interests and passions.