George Arun A
15-03-2023
5 Questions to Consider When Choosing a Major for College
College is a balance of working toward your future goals while taking advantage of the opportunities presented to you by classes, professors and extracurricular activities. To choose the right major, keep in mind both your present interests and your future career goals.
What are your interests?
What subject could you talk on and on about? What fills you with excitement? Part of choosing the right college major is identifying where your core interests lie. Your major can set you up for your future career, so it’s important to choose a subject you can see yourself pursuing long-term.
At the same time, not all passions are potential careers. For instance, you may be passionate about animals, but if the sight of blood makes you queasy, veterinary science may not be the right major for you.
What are your strengths?
Understanding your strengths is key to determining your major. Your strengths can point you toward a career path. Strong organization skills and extroversion can indicate a career in event planning, for example. For this career path, a marketing management major may be appropriate.
Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses and take into consideration the opinion of your close friends, teachers and others who know you well.
What are your future goals?
Envision where you want to be in five to 10 years. Where do you want to live? What position do you want to hold? Do you want to manage people or dive into research? How much do you want to earn?
To choose a major, you can work backward from these questions about your future goals. You may find yourself investigating a major or subject area you hadn’t considered before, but which might equip you to reach your goals.
What kind of coursework are you interested in?
Does reading about the human mind thrill or bore you? Do you find organic chemistry as mesmerizing as it is difficult?
Your major will require certain core courses. Ask yourself if you would be interested in each course on the list. You don’t need to feel passionate about all of the courses, but determining your interest will help you understand whether you’re choosing a major for the right reasons. It can also help you find clarity about your true interests.
Is there someone you trust to guide you in finding a major?
If your mind is running in circles even after answering these questions, it may be helpful to turn to a trusted guidance counselor or teacher. One of the best ways to uncover which major is right for you is by asking someone who observes you in academic settings and can objectively answer questions about your academic strengths and weaknesses.
Make an appointment to speak with your counselor or teacher. Explain your dilemma and ask how they can help you make an informed decision.
Should I change my major?
Changing your major is a huge decision. And while it may not be a life or death situation, it sure seems like it when you’re caught in the middle of deciding what you want to do. After a year and week of being unhappy in a major I wasn’t in love with, I gathered up my courage to make the switch. However, that year leading up to the decision was a rough one, and I truly hope that no one has to go through the painful indecisive process of should I stay or should I go like I did. So, to help make the decision easier for you, here’s a little quiz to push you in the right direction. By no means should this determine your ultimate decision, but hopefully it will help you to make the best decision for you.
Should I Double Major in College? Can I?
Yes, You can..............
Undergraduates aren't necessarily limited to one field of study. Most colleges and universities allow you to double major or even triple major. Normally, students who double major choose two academic fields that complement each other, though you're not required to do this.
For example, if you wanted to pursue a career in international business, you might double major in business management and a foreign language. Other popular major combinations include:
Accounting and finance
Engineering and math
Political science and philosophy
Criminal justice and psychology
If you don't have enough room in your class schedule to pursue two majors, you can declare a minor in a secondary subject that interests you.
4 other factors to consider when choosing a college major.
The questions above can help you better understand yourself and what majors might be the best fit for you. But there are other career- and education-related factors to take into account.
1. High-demand jobs
High-demand jobs translate to more opportunities. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapist jobs are expected to grow by 21 percent in the next ten years compared to 9 percent for political scientist jobs.
That’s not to say you should choose a major solely on career outcome potentials, but it’s a good idea to get a clear picture of what you’d like your future to entail. Going back to political science as an example, if you choose that major, you’ll at least know there may be more competition for fewer jobs.
2. Career longevity
Industries come and go, so choosing a major that will lead to work in a lasting field can be important, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning continue to automate many jobs and displace workers.
Thinking about career longevity goes beyond thinking about specific industries. Studies have shown that the social skills—or interpersonal skills—students develop may be key to a long career. Unlike routine-heavy jobs that are becoming easier to automate, jobs that require social skills (or working with others) will likely have more longevity.
College majors that emphasize social skills:
Business administration
Marketing and communications
Physical therapy
Psychology
Social work
3. High-paying majors
Knowing which majors pay the most for a bachelor’s degree can refine your options. According to PayScale’s College Salary Report, majors in accounting, engineering, and computer science tend to pay well.
But don’t discount a liberal arts education, which emphasizes transferable skills you can use to explore numerous career opportunities. While graduates tend to earn less for entry-level roles, they can make up for that differential over time if they move into higher-level roles.
4. Future education goals
If you know you’d like to pursue a graduate degree after earning your bachelor’s, it’s a good idea to choose a major that will help set you on the best path. Students interested in law school, for example, often major in English or communications to gain a solid foundation in reading and writing. Similarly, many students interested in medical school major in biology or another natural science subject.
Here are some major collections to go through,
College majors:
College majors range by area, such as the arts & humanities, and by career focus, such as computer science or marketing. We've compiled majors across fields and career paths. Take a moment to review the ones that sound most interesting to you. [Thanks to Coursera]
The most popular college majors continue to be business, health, and social sciences.
Types of associate degrees
A. (Associate of Arts) – Focused on liberal art areas like music, history and English. This degree involves 60 hours of coursework to achieve a pass.
S. (Associate of Science) – Common A.S. programs include biology and chemistry.
A.S. (Associate of Applied Science) – This broad subject includes programs in business, mathematics and related topics.
E. (Associate of Engineering) – Focuses on engineering.
A.A. (Associate of Applied Arts) – Deals with applied arts only.
P.S. (Associate of Political Science) – Deals with political science only.
Types of bachelor’s degrees
A. (Bachelor of Arts) – It is considered as the widest bachelor’s degree including humanities, social sciences and liberal arts.
S. (Bachelor of Science) – It usually covers majors such as engineering, physics, accounting or business or any of the sciences.
F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts) – Fine arts include acting, dancing, singing, sculpting and painting. Previous experience is required when applying for these courses.
B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration) – BBA degree often covers courses in management strategy, decision making and even organizational psychology. You should opt for this course if you aspire to be a manager or CEO one day!
Arch. (Bachelor of Architecture) – If you dream of designing buildings, this is the course that you must obtain. You’ll then be required to follow on to a graduate course after.
B. (Bachelor of Laws degree) – If you hope to be a big-time lawyer, a bachelor’s degree is where you should begin.
Eng. (Bachelor of Engineering degree) – This degree focuses solely on the field of engineering.
I hope you got some idea of choosing your major for your higher studies. Even if you have not chosen, you will find a way through various recourses.
All The Best...!!!!
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