There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing what to put on that line. According to MyMajors.com founder Dr. Fritz Grupe in an interview with MSNBC, the average college student changes his or her area of study two and a half to three times throughout the course of their college career. Starting on a path to find a major can be a daunting task, but resources such as an institution’s career services center or career and major planning articles from websites such as Quintessential Careers can be useful tools for students who are undecided.
Know Your Strengths
Can you write awesome stories? Are you always the one fixing someone’s computer? Do you like working with children?
Playing to a student’s strengths is something to really take into consideration when deciding what to study. A student who hates numbers would not be interested in being a math major, but may be more comfortable in a different field of study.
Also keep in mind that a student’s strengths may lie in more than one area. If a student has excellent oral and written communication skills, then he or she should consider double majoring in communications and a writing field, such as technical writing or journalism. If a student is artistic but also very practical, then a double major or major/minor combination in business administration and art is a likely option.
Know Your Goals
When choosing a major, it is important to know what the ultimate result of four years of hard work will result in. Some majors offer a wide array of career choices, while others have a very limited number of career options and post-graduate plans to choose from. A few majors, such as English, provide students with skills that are applicable to hundreds of career choices, not just education, writing, or publishing.
If a student has a goal in mind and isn’t sure how to get there, research professionals in the field to see what and where they have studied. Talk to career advisors or academic advisors to see what led them to their field of work, or for resources on how to find a major to fit your goals. Many universities offer major sheets to create a list of careers and jobs that a particular major can provide to a graduate.
Know Your Weaknesses
While passion, drive, and a career goal are important to choosing a major, a student’s weaknesses are also important. A student who does not like to practice skills repeatedly but who loves to sing may get frustrated with a music major, while someone who loves taking care of people but faints at the sight of blood may not want to consider a medical profession. A student’s weaknesses, study habits, and other problem areas may negatively impact how well a student does in a particular major, but may also ruin the experience of being in college due to unnecessary frustration.
Selecting a college major can be one of the biggest steps in a student’s academic life. Knowing what to do and where to turn for help can be some of the best tools when making a decision to study a particular field beyond high school.
