If you’re unsure what college major to choose or what you want to do after you graduate, you’re not alone. We’re breaking down the best tips for choosing a college major that’ll set you up for success and that you’ll absolutely love!
Top Tips for Choosing a College Major!
Choosing a college major can be difficult. It seems like there are endless options. Also, how is anyone supposed to know what they want to do with the rest of their life at 18? It’s a seemingly impossible task. But, it’s something you have to do if you’re headed off to college.
Luckily, there are some ways to make it easier. In this post I’m breaking down all the tips for choosing a college major and how to choose a college major you love and that’ll set you up for success! This way, you can make the most of your college experience and pick a college major you’re passionate about.
This post is all about how to college major you love!
15 Best Tips for Choosing a College Major
#1 Do a Self-Assessment
One of the first tips for choosing a college major is to do a little self-assessment. At 17 or 18 going into college, it’s hard to know what you want to do or what you’re truly passionate about. I had no idea what I wanted to do for the rest of my life after graduating high school. Sure, I had things I liked doing and hobbies I was passionate about, but a career choice? I had no idea where to start.
To choose a college major, you’ll want to first reflect on what subjects and activities you enjoy the most. Think about subjects in school that are your favorite and things you love to do outside of school. Make a list of all the things you love to do. What are the things that you could do for hours and not get bored?
Are there any experiences you’ve had or activities you’ve loved that didn’t make you sit and look at your watch to see how much time had gone by? Think about those immersive experiences you’ve loved so far and the subjects you enjoy. This will be a starting point to figure out what college majors relate to and may be a good fit.
#2 Assess Your Skills and Strengths
The next step is to reflect on your skills and strengths. Part of picking a college major and figuring out what to get a college degree in is assessing what you’re good at. Sure we all have interests and passions, but what are your strengths and weaknesses?
Are you a good communicator? Are you empathetic? Maybe you’re highly ambitious and hardworking. Make a list of character traits and skills you’re good at and not good at. For example, if you’re not good at public speaking or don’t do well working under pressure, write that down. This will give you more information about yourself to narrow down what college majors might be a good fit.
#3 Reflect on Your Values and Goals
Another step for choosing a college major is to assess your values and goals. When it comes to picking something you want to do for the rest of your life, you’ll need to dig deep and think about your values and future goals. I’ll let you know now, this can be tough as a senior in high school and will likely change as you learn and grow throughout college.
But, try to think about these things to the best of your ability right now. Do you value job stability, high income, helping others, traveling, collaborating with others, or creativity?
These things are actually major when it comes to picking a career and will become clearer as you go through college and can actually start to picture yourself as part of the working world. Regardless though, try your best and write these values and goals down. You’ll want to choose a college major and career that aligns with these values.
#4 Research Potential Majors
Now that you’ve reflected on your passions, values, interests, and goals, it’s time to research potential majors. I suggest starting with a college major quiz. When I was a senior in high school they had us do this and it essentially compiles information you provide to come up with potent college majors that would suit you.
Take the college major quiz here through Niche
The quiz will come up with a list of majors to suit your values, interests, and personality type. Once you have a list of potential majors, research the types of jobs each major can lead to. You can use The Bureau of Labor Statistics or compare multiple salary information sites to better understand job prospects and potential income.
With this, you’ll also want to look up careers and professions that are in high demand along with future prospects for the majors you’re interested in. Consider industries that are growing and have strong future prospects. Some fields may offer more opportunities than others. Picking a job with high growth rates or with good future prospects is always a good choice since it’ll be easier to land a job in these fields once you graduate.
#5 Seek Advice and Guidance
Now that you’ve researched potential majors, don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Ask for advice from your high school counselors, teachers, and parents. They can sometimes help lead you in the right direction and give you tips on what to look for in a future career path.
Your high school counselor and academic advisor for your freshman year of college will be the best resources to help you navigate choosing a college major. They’ll usually offer the most unbiased and objective advice and guidance to help you choose the right career path.
Once you’re in college you can also always reach out to your school’s career services to help you narrow down what you want to do, decide on a major, or change your major.
#6 Gain Experience
The next step for choosing a college major is to gain experience. You can gain experience through job shadowing, volunteer experiences, or paid work experiences. Try out tons of different things to get an idea of what you might want to do.
When I went to college, I changed my major twice. The second time, I was totally lost and had no idea what career I wanted to pursue and what major to switch to. I wouldn’t have been able to make a decision and choose a new major if I hadn’t done a bunch of job shadowing.
Job shadowing is one of the best ways to figure out what a typical day in the life is like and what a career entails. It gives you the opportunity to ask questions and see what you might be doing if you choose that career path. If you’re unsure of what you want to do and what major you might want, reach out to people in your local community and do as much job shadowing as you can! It’ll help you figure out what you like and don’t like in different career options.
Another key way to gain experience is through clubs and organizations. Not only will these look good on your resume, but they’re also a great way to get experience with different interests and connect you with people who can give you insight into classes and different college majors.
#7 Research Pros and Cons of Different Professions and Majors
Now that you’ve done your major quiz, job shadowed, and come up with a list of potential majors that might suit you, you should make a list of pros and cons. Pick around 5-10 different college majors or career paths that appeal to you or that might suit your interests and values and make a list of pros and cons.
Research the good and the bad about particular career paths. For example, being a teacher gives you the opportunity to impact others’ lives, but it may not give you the most flexibility in terms of upward growth and income. This is a simple way to narrow down potential majors and career paths which is an essential step for choosing a college major that you’ll love.
#8 Make an Informed Decision
Take all the information you’ve compiled from the previous steps and take time to think about what major will suit you best. There’s no rush. You can always go into college undecided or exploratory and change your major later. Heck, even if you make a firm decision, you can always change your major later. Nothing is set in stone so don’t stress too much about it.
Once you get to college, talk to your classmates and professors, and start taking classes, you’ll get a better idea of what your future career path will look like and if your college major is a good fit for you. Go in with an open mind and be flexible with your thinking. I had my heart set on a major going into college, only to do a complete 180° and change college majors twice.
It’s okay to change your mind and change your mind again. Ultimately, you’ll want to decide on a major based on all the information you’ve gathered and the reflection you’ve done. Trust your instincts and your gut and do what feels right.
Pursue what you’re passionate about and what you’ve always dreamed of doing. Because doing something that makes you happy and fulfills you is most important. It’s your life and your career. Choosing a major is all about you. Do what aligns best with your personal interests and professional aspirations.
The Bottom Line…
By following these steps, you’ll be able to pick a career path. It’ll make choosing a college major easier and less overwhelming. Bottom line, choose a college major that suits your personal interests and strengths, yet sets you up for a successful and fulfilling career. That’s how you’ll narrow down a college major and decide on a college major you’ll absolutely love!
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