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How do I know if a certain major is right for me?
I'm planning to attend college in the fall. My intended major is criminology. How do I know if that's what I want to do for the rest of my life?
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4 answers
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Katie’s Answer
Hi Abby!
When I was in college, I struggled with deciding what I wanted to do, just like you. During my first two years, I studied General Business and focused on marketing, criminal justice management, and management. I often met with my advisor to talk about what I liked, what I didn't, and what I wanted to learn more about. These talks helped me think differently about my career goals and future, so I could choose one major instead of a broad degree. I picked marketing because it was exciting, let me be creative, and included business and management. At first, I wanted to be a lawyer and was interested in criminal justice management. But when I thought about the time and effort it would take, I changed my mind—and that's perfectly okay! I realized that your major can let you do different things and doesn't have to decide your whole future. As long as you're excited and passionate about what you choose, you can succeed. Doing an internship is also a great way to see what a career might be like. Talking with advisors, teachers, family, and friends can help you feel more sure and comfortable with whatever path you choose!
When I was in college, I struggled with deciding what I wanted to do, just like you. During my first two years, I studied General Business and focused on marketing, criminal justice management, and management. I often met with my advisor to talk about what I liked, what I didn't, and what I wanted to learn more about. These talks helped me think differently about my career goals and future, so I could choose one major instead of a broad degree. I picked marketing because it was exciting, let me be creative, and included business and management. At first, I wanted to be a lawyer and was interested in criminal justice management. But when I thought about the time and effort it would take, I changed my mind—and that's perfectly okay! I realized that your major can let you do different things and doesn't have to decide your whole future. As long as you're excited and passionate about what you choose, you can succeed. Doing an internship is also a great way to see what a career might be like. Talking with advisors, teachers, family, and friends can help you feel more sure and comfortable with whatever path you choose!
Updated
Kristine’s Answer
Hi Abby!
What a great question! Choosing a major is a very tough decision. I recommend asking around where you live to see if you could job shadow professionals for a little bit or set up a short meeting to hear about their daily work. It's important to consider several roles that are related to your major because you might change your mind down the road.
Between my second and third years of college, I had my first major-specific internship. That was when I finally felt like I had picked the right major for me. I needed that opportunity to do the work on a day-to-day basis to feel confident. Even with that confidence, I'm not doing the same type of work now. Your major doesn't have to define what you do forever. Often, getting a degree helps show that you can learn and as long as you're willing to put in the effort, you can do anything.
What a great question! Choosing a major is a very tough decision. I recommend asking around where you live to see if you could job shadow professionals for a little bit or set up a short meeting to hear about their daily work. It's important to consider several roles that are related to your major because you might change your mind down the road.
Between my second and third years of college, I had my first major-specific internship. That was when I finally felt like I had picked the right major for me. I needed that opportunity to do the work on a day-to-day basis to feel confident. Even with that confidence, I'm not doing the same type of work now. Your major doesn't have to define what you do forever. Often, getting a degree helps show that you can learn and as long as you're willing to put in the effort, you can do anything.
Updated
Gyan’s Answer
As someone who is a sophomore college student. Well follow your heart, i am not the experts like the 2 responses here but. Think about the future with that course you're gonna take, well some courses may need that extra time and some are not. The piece of advice someone said to me, "It doesn't matter if it's hard, as long as you think that is what you want to do. Well do it!"
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Deborah’s Answer
I remember asking myself this exact question when I was going to study Law in college. I mean my grades were right but I just wasn't sure if Law was the right choice for me. My parents were excited about my passion to study law at the university but somewhere deep down felt like I should have studied something else.
In all honesty, this is the feeling many passionate students get when they have to make career choices as this. But, the first thing you need to do is to ask yourself or remind yourself about what you want to be in the future, right after you leave college. If you think you want to become an entrepreneur, then you may want to rethink criminology. However, If you want to become a Detective or many an officer of the law or something related, you're definitely in the right lane.
That said, career choices are very delicate, you should make smart choices!
In all honesty, this is the feeling many passionate students get when they have to make career choices as this. But, the first thing you need to do is to ask yourself or remind yourself about what you want to be in the future, right after you leave college. If you think you want to become an entrepreneur, then you may want to rethink criminology. However, If you want to become a Detective or many an officer of the law or something related, you're definitely in the right lane.
That said, career choices are very delicate, you should make smart choices!