7 answers
Dennis
Student
Great Neck, New York
1
Question
Updated
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I'm a senior in High school, how do I choose a major when I don't know what career path I want to take yet?
I'm looking for ways to find out what I want to major in.
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7 answers
Paula Sturman
VP Talent and Development
12
Answers
Sherwood, Oregon
Updated
Paula’s Answer
Hi Dennis,
Great job on reaching out with this important question! Choosing your major is a significant step, and you have plenty of resources to guide you to the best decision. Here are a few steps to consider:
1. Reflect on your favorite subjects - Do you love math, science, or literature? Think about which classes you enjoy the most right now.
2. Imagine your ideal career - What jobs interest you? Can you picture yourself working in an office or perhaps in a trade?
3. Seek support - Talk with a school counselor or academic advisor to explore majors that suit you. Also, reach out to family and friends for their advice. You can ask more questions on Career Village to help narrow down your options.
4. Keep in mind that you can change your major - The first two years of college often cover general courses, giving you time to switch majors if needed. Your college will have advisors or career counselors ready to assist if you decide to make a change.
This is an exciting journey for you, and I wish you all the best as you move forward in your academic career.
Paula
Great job on reaching out with this important question! Choosing your major is a significant step, and you have plenty of resources to guide you to the best decision. Here are a few steps to consider:
1. Reflect on your favorite subjects - Do you love math, science, or literature? Think about which classes you enjoy the most right now.
2. Imagine your ideal career - What jobs interest you? Can you picture yourself working in an office or perhaps in a trade?
3. Seek support - Talk with a school counselor or academic advisor to explore majors that suit you. Also, reach out to family and friends for their advice. You can ask more questions on Career Village to help narrow down your options.
4. Keep in mind that you can change your major - The first two years of college often cover general courses, giving you time to switch majors if needed. Your college will have advisors or career counselors ready to assist if you decide to make a change.
This is an exciting journey for you, and I wish you all the best as you move forward in your academic career.
Paula
Rachel Smith
Technical Skills Consultant
13
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Rachel’s Answer
Hey Dennis!
This is a really great and challenging question. I personally changed my major almost 5 times between starting University and the end of my first year. For me, it was so important to get to Univeristy and just start. If there is an option to go in Business-Undecided or undecided in general, this is NOT a bad choice. Your first year will be full of taking general education courses that can help you understand what direction you may want to go.
If you really want to try and nail down a direction, here are some things to consider trying out:
1. Find students that are willing to chat with you about how they chose their degrees and seek any advice they have.
2. Take a skills assessment! You could ask an AI prompt generator to give you questions to help you determine things you may want to study in university and then feed it your responses to see if it has any recommendations. Thats a simple way to start. A google search will also pull up some assessment options.
3. Don't be afraid to 'get it wrong'. Oftentimes we get so stuck in making the right / perfect decision, we don't make one. Give yourself the freedom to make a decision, and give yourself the freedom to change your mind!
This is a really great and challenging question. I personally changed my major almost 5 times between starting University and the end of my first year. For me, it was so important to get to Univeristy and just start. If there is an option to go in Business-Undecided or undecided in general, this is NOT a bad choice. Your first year will be full of taking general education courses that can help you understand what direction you may want to go.
If you really want to try and nail down a direction, here are some things to consider trying out:
1. Find students that are willing to chat with you about how they chose their degrees and seek any advice they have.
2. Take a skills assessment! You could ask an AI prompt generator to give you questions to help you determine things you may want to study in university and then feed it your responses to see if it has any recommendations. Thats a simple way to start. A google search will also pull up some assessment options.
3. Don't be afraid to 'get it wrong'. Oftentimes we get so stuck in making the right / perfect decision, we don't make one. Give yourself the freedom to make a decision, and give yourself the freedom to change your mind!
Kathy Risi
Substitute Teacher
4
Answers
Indialantic, Florida
Updated
Kathy’s Answer
Since you can change majors, taking up a Liberal Arts major may not be such a bad idea...especially if you are still on the fence. The classes of a Liberal Arts major are often prerequisites, so they will be applicable to whatever major you decide on.
Remember, you don't have to take a full semester of classes. You have the liberty to take a class or two until you feel more directed. Browse the majors available and see what interests you. Keep in mind that some universities will vary on majors, depending on the school, etc.
Get a visual in your mind. A plan that’s realistic, I mean which is attainable. You should write your plan down, like in an outline or something so you can reflect, and then problem solve. Ask yourself questions (Is this the most affordable? Do I have a passion for this? Are my goals realistic?) and execute!
Remember, you don't have to take a full semester of classes. You have the liberty to take a class or two until you feel more directed. Browse the majors available and see what interests you. Keep in mind that some universities will vary on majors, depending on the school, etc.
Get a visual in your mind. A plan that’s realistic, I mean which is attainable. You should write your plan down, like in an outline or something so you can reflect, and then problem solve. Ask yourself questions (Is this the most affordable? Do I have a passion for this? Are my goals realistic?) and execute!
Ce Ji
55
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Ce’s Answer
Hi Dennis, It's great that you're thinking seriously about the future! Many high school students and even adults are exploring just like you, so don't worry if you don't have a clear direction yet. It's actually the first step to discovering new opportunities. Try focusing on what sparks your interest instead of stressing over picking a major. Think about what you've spent the most time on recently, whether it's watching videos, enjoying anime, or helping friends. These activities might reveal your true passion. Describe what you enjoy in three words, like "creating," "communicating," or "analyzing." This will help you understand what motivates you more than just picking a major. Remember to give yourself time to explore and make mistakes. Think of choosing a major as trying a small dessert—if you don't like it, you can always try something else!
Laura P
writer
7
Answers
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Updated
Laura’s Answer
I heard someone say that, rather than asking a child the question, "What do I want to be when you grow up?", ask, "What problem do you want to help solve?" I think this can also apply at any age! What problems are you most passionate about solving?
Tony Roig
Volunteer
78
Answers
New Hope, Pennsylvania
Updated
Tony’s Answer
Hi Dennis,
In addition to the good replies and advice you already received to your question, I would add that taking career tests may also be helpful to identify possible career paths based not only on your interests but also your preferences, aptitude and abilities and personality. This may help to pick a field that is more naturally is aligned to you which improves your chances of work success and satisfaction. Check with your schools guidance office as they typically have a variety of assessments. This is a typical offering at colleges so you could also take them your first year to help you select a college major and minor early on so you avoid possibly switching majors later when have to spend extra time and money for classes to make up.
Best wishes,
Tony
In addition to the good replies and advice you already received to your question, I would add that taking career tests may also be helpful to identify possible career paths based not only on your interests but also your preferences, aptitude and abilities and personality. This may help to pick a field that is more naturally is aligned to you which improves your chances of work success and satisfaction. Check with your schools guidance office as they typically have a variety of assessments. This is a typical offering at colleges so you could also take them your first year to help you select a college major and minor early on so you avoid possibly switching majors later when have to spend extra time and money for classes to make up.
Best wishes,
Tony
Aline Da Silva Couto
Human Resources Director
2
Answers
Santos, SP
Updated
Aline’s Answer
Dennis, if you have the chance to take a gap year, do it. I took one because I wasn’t sure what I wanted. After the gap year, I started two degrees at the same time—one in IT and the other in Psychology. Eventually, I chose Psychology, which led to my career in HR. In my opinion, you’ll never be 100% sure. Just don’t be afraid to start something—if you change your mind later, it won’t be the end of the world