How to Choose a College Major
No pressure or anything, but did you realized that the major you declare in college pretty much determines the majority of the rest of your life? With that in mind, it makes good sense to choose a career that you can be really happy with. It should be a good fit for your capabilities, interests and values. Your guidance counselor is there to help you, but following these four steps is a good way to help yourself first:
1. Take a good look at yourself. What kinds of activities hold your interest? Perhaps more important, what bores you? One way to find out such things is to go online and search for personality assessment quizzes such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory.
2. How well do you know the work place? Take what you’ve learned about yourself and brainstorm all possible career paths that could stem from your interests and strengths. Use a phone book or classified section of a major metropolitan newspaper for idea starters. Once you have a list of jobs, do some research and find out what the earning potential for each job is, the level of education required and what the list of responsibilities are.
3. Narrow down the list to a handful of serious options for you. Make a pro and con list of having such a career. For example, if it seems like being a veterinarian fits all of your criteria ask yourself how you’ll feel taking care of sick animals as well as nurturing healthy ones. Ask friends and family members if they know people who are currently working in one of your top fields and then ask to speak with them. Don’t forget that your guidance counselor can point you in the right direction as well.
4. Now that you have a good idea of what you’re interested in, look for a college that is strong in that area. Choosing a school that is reputable in your major will go a long way toward landing you your first job after graduation.
As long as you are looking deep within your heart, you will be doing well by yourself when it comes to declaring a major. If, down the road, you find a new area that you hadn’t considered before, don’t be afraid to allow yourself to evolve. Majors can be changed after all. The end result should be happiness at home and a work.
Bill Stevenson is an educational counselor who assists people in selecting a college or university in which to earn an online degree or certificate.
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