How to Choose a College Major
When it’s time to starting making solid decisions about enrolling in college,
many people have questions about how to choose a college major. Selecting a college
major is a personal decision that involves you to spend time reflecting on your
goals, likes, dislikes, skills, and aptitudes.
Selecting a college major is an important decision, and it is not one that should
be made lightly. It is important to remember, however, that declaring a major is
not an irreversible decision. It is not uncommon for college students to change
majors one or more times after they enroll in college.
Some factors to consider when selecting a college major include:
- What type of career can you see yourself in?
- What type of work do you enjoy?
- What are your interests?
- Which subjects did you enjoy studying the most in high school?
- If you completed a career assessment in high school, what did the results indicate?
(If you have never taken such an assessment, consider taking a college major test
before selecting a program of study.)
- What type of skills do you have?
- Do you have any hobbies that you would like to pursue as a career?
- What did you learn about what you like and dislike from your past work experience?
- Are there in-demand career fields in the geographic areas where you would like to
live following graduation?
The answers to these questions can help guide your selection of a college major.
For example, if you held part time positions in retail while in high school and
you absolutely hated the work, you can immediately scratch retail management off
your list. However, if you enjoyed the part of the job that involved setting up
product displays, you might seriously want to consider a major in visual merchandising.
The college major that you select impacts the types of jobs you will be qualified
for upon graduation. USA Jobs (http://www.usajobs.gov/EI23.asp),
the official job website of the United States Federal Government, publishes a guide
to college majors that details hiring qualifications, by major, for different types
of federal jobs. This site publishes popular jobs with an appropriate college major
list beneath each type of job.