Choosing a Major in College

Deciding what major and career path to dedicate yourself to can be one of the hardest decisions to make in college. However, there are some steps students can take to help make the decision easier.

Choosing a Major

Considering your priorities is essential when it comes to choosing a major. If your highest priorities are salary or job demand, you may be drawn toward certain majors. In contrast, if having a job you are passionate about or excel in are high priorities, other majors may draw your interest. Before choosing a major, it is important to consider economic advantage, interest level, and ability, and how these relate to you and your goals.

Career tests can be a wonderful way to narrow down your interests and strengths. Tests such as Jobtest.org and Truity’s test can show potential career paths you would fit well in, and therefore what majors you may want to consider. Student Coaching Services also offers career testing as part of their coaching programs.

Considering interests can be a good way to choose a major. Students perform better when they are able to focus on their interests, as studies have shown. Choosing a career path or major based on interest can be beneficial because it can set up a student for a fulfilling life.

Getting involved can be a great way to decide. Joining student clubs, side hustles, working part-time jobs on campus or off campus, volunteering and completing internships can show students what does and does not fulfill them, pointing to what careers may work for them.

Evaluating what you are good at is another way to make the decision. Everyone has natural abilities and talents, and understanding where you naturally shine can help a lot when it comes to choosing a major. One way to determine which academic areas fit you best is to look at your high school grades and ACT or SAT scores, as these can highlight strengths.

Rigorous coursework can be a deciding factor in choosing a major. Some majors can be harder than others due to homework, course expectations and exam frequency. Before declaring a major, it is important to understand what the weekly workload will look like. Indiana University Bloomington’s 2016 National Survey of Student Engagement found the most difficult majors were architecture, chemical engineering, and aeronautical engineering based on the average time students spent per week preparing for classes. Easier majors were determined to be fields such as criminal justice, communication, and public relations.

Checking in with an academic advisor can be an amazing way to decide a major. Academic advisors have had hundreds of similar conversations, and can provide insight into picking a major like few others. They may even be able to suggest majors you hadn’t considered, based on your academic and career goals. However, it is important to remember that academic advisors have limited time, and the time you have with them is valuable. Come to all meetings with a list of thoughtful questions to help guide the meeting.

Double Majoring, Changing Majors and Undecided

Many colleges permit double and even triple majors. If you are considering this, it can be wise to choose two fields that accompany each other. Examples of such areas are accounting and finance, or political science and philosophy. Another option is to declare a potential double major as a minor.

Changing your major may seem complicated, but it can be a wise decision, as 3 in 5 graduates wished they could go back and change their majors, according to a 2020 BestColleges study. The only drawback is that, depending on when students switch, they may add costs to their degree if they stay in school longer than the standard four years to meet credit requirements, as many of their classes only counted toward their prior major.

An undecided major can be a good middle ground. Colleges want students to take their time when choosing a major, and admissions committees understand that choosing a major is a big decision. If you apply undecided, you will have a couple of years to try on different areas of study until you have to declare what your degree will be in. Some universities may require students to apply for a major to gain admission to the corresponding school or department, but this usually only applies to majors such as nursing and business.

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