How to Choose a Major in College
When it comes to your college major, it can make or break you. Most people choose their college major for three reasons:
1- The estimated money you can make within that major for a specific career. Obviously money isn’t everything, but it can buy some pretty stuff! Don’t make a choice depending on JUST the money factors because honestly when it comes to jobs or careers, there are so many factors that you can’t just say "Oh lawyers make a lot of money, I want to be a lawyer." Because that’s not true. There are pro bono lawyers for instance. Or different genres such as litigation versus family lawyers - litigation pays more unless you find a family that has a lot of money. Starting to get too confusing? Yea, like I said, don’t pick a career path or major just because you are seeing green because a lot of different factors come into pay in careers!
2- To get prepared for a certain job or career in the real world. If you are lucky enough to already know what you want to have a field job in, you already know what you need to study and you know your majors, minors and what type of a degree you want. Not everyone is this lucky to know what they want before they even reach college, but that’s okay. You’re allowed to explore your options.
3- To soak up as much knowledge as you can about a subject that really excites them. If like above, you know what your career path is, but you want to learn even more about something that really excites you and that you have passion for, you might pick a major that has everything to do with your career path, as well as other classes to really delve into that topic.
If you want a few ideas on how to pick the best major for college, here are a few tips to help you figure out how to choose, what to choose and maybe a few whys too.
High school Aint Got Nothin' on College
College is a whole new ballgame when it comes to your education. There might have, for example, been certain subjects you hated in high school that you may actually LOVE in college. It’s a new place, new setting, new situations, new people, new teachers, etc. As a rule of thumb, don’t automatically rule a class or a major out just because it was something you didn’t like in high school. Give everything a chance, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem at the time. You never really know what might change or who you might change to be as a person.
Ask Peers
Upperclassmen are some of the best people to ask questions, especially if they are interested in the same subjects you are. Upperclassmen are the real pros at your school. They can give you tips on classes to take, not take, which teachers to look out for, which ones are the best teachers, etc. These upperclassmen can also talk to you about the questions they had (just like you) and how they went about finding the answers to those burning questions. You can also take a look at some Alumni online and ask them about their experiences in picking majors as well.
Find Real Life Professionals
Go on websites like Yahoo and Forums that are relevant to what you think you might want to do after college career wise. Find professionals that already have a head start in their career and already finished college. Ask them what majors they took and how relevant and useful those majors are in the career path they are on now. You can also ask them the nitty gritty details about what their job tasks consist of, what a normal day is like in their shoes regarding their career and more.
Check the Syllabus
Nothing will clue you in more than the syllabus of a class or major. Take a look at everything and anything you can from books and assignments to homework and projects. Do the books interest you? Are the assignments are projects exciting to you? Do you meet the requirements of the class? Here’s a clue: if you pick up the syllabus or a book from the class and your eyes start to close slowly and you space out or worse - fall asleep, it’s probably not the best major in your interest of your education. You want something that’s going to get your blood pumping, your heart pounding and your eyes on the content. Find that and you find exactly what you are looking for!
1- The estimated money you can make within that major for a specific career. Obviously money isn’t everything, but it can buy some pretty stuff! Don’t make a choice depending on JUST the money factors because honestly when it comes to jobs or careers, there are so many factors that you can’t just say "Oh lawyers make a lot of money, I want to be a lawyer." Because that’s not true. There are pro bono lawyers for instance. Or different genres such as litigation versus family lawyers - litigation pays more unless you find a family that has a lot of money. Starting to get too confusing? Yea, like I said, don’t pick a career path or major just because you are seeing green because a lot of different factors come into pay in careers!
2- To get prepared for a certain job or career in the real world. If you are lucky enough to already know what you want to have a field job in, you already know what you need to study and you know your majors, minors and what type of a degree you want. Not everyone is this lucky to know what they want before they even reach college, but that’s okay. You’re allowed to explore your options.
3- To soak up as much knowledge as you can about a subject that really excites them. If like above, you know what your career path is, but you want to learn even more about something that really excites you and that you have passion for, you might pick a major that has everything to do with your career path, as well as other classes to really delve into that topic.
If you want a few ideas on how to pick the best major for college, here are a few tips to help you figure out how to choose, what to choose and maybe a few whys too.
High school Aint Got Nothin' on College
College is a whole new ballgame when it comes to your education. There might have, for example, been certain subjects you hated in high school that you may actually LOVE in college. It’s a new place, new setting, new situations, new people, new teachers, etc. As a rule of thumb, don’t automatically rule a class or a major out just because it was something you didn’t like in high school. Give everything a chance, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem at the time. You never really know what might change or who you might change to be as a person.
Ask Peers
Upperclassmen are some of the best people to ask questions, especially if they are interested in the same subjects you are. Upperclassmen are the real pros at your school. They can give you tips on classes to take, not take, which teachers to look out for, which ones are the best teachers, etc. These upperclassmen can also talk to you about the questions they had (just like you) and how they went about finding the answers to those burning questions. You can also take a look at some Alumni online and ask them about their experiences in picking majors as well.
Find Real Life Professionals
Go on websites like Yahoo and Forums that are relevant to what you think you might want to do after college career wise. Find professionals that already have a head start in their career and already finished college. Ask them what majors they took and how relevant and useful those majors are in the career path they are on now. You can also ask them the nitty gritty details about what their job tasks consist of, what a normal day is like in their shoes regarding their career and more.
Check the Syllabus
Nothing will clue you in more than the syllabus of a class or major. Take a look at everything and anything you can from books and assignments to homework and projects. Do the books interest you? Are the assignments are projects exciting to you? Do you meet the requirements of the class? Here’s a clue: if you pick up the syllabus or a book from the class and your eyes start to close slowly and you space out or worse - fall asleep, it’s probably not the best major in your interest of your education. You want something that’s going to get your blood pumping, your heart pounding and your eyes on the content. Find that and you find exactly what you are looking for!