14 answers
Ali
Student
2
Questions
Asked
3047 views
How do I determine which major or career path to explore for college or university?
Currently, I am a freshman and will be a sophomore after the summer. I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with my life—what job I want to have and what career I want to pursue—but I feel a bit stuck. I've explored a variety of activities; I participated in a sport, took an introductory dance class, and plan to join the intermediate dance class next year, along with folklórico. Sometimes, I feel like I'm all over the place. I also want to join the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) next school year and participate in other clubs as well.
This year, I took sophomore math instead of regular 9th-grade math or honors. I found the class to be somewhat slow. I'm unsure if I should return to honors math or if it will be too challenging for me. Additionally, I enrolled in 3-D art because I used to enjoy making small crafts.
I currently have a weighted GPA of 4.0, with A's in all my classes, including some A+ grades and maybe some A-'s or just A's.
Given this information, what majors might be a good fit for me? What UC schools could I potentially attend? What is the acceptance rate for those schools?
14 answers
Lindsey Flagg
Marketing Content Specialist
18
Answers
Crown Point, Indiana
Updated
Lindsey’s Answer
You sound like you are a very responsible, well-rounded student and are doing everything right as far as exploring different interest areas and getting excellent grades. It can be hard to figure out what you want to do with your life so young, but it is also very understandable to be a good student and wanting to plan for the best future possible.
Beyond extracurriculars and coursework, you may want to look into volunteer opportunities to explore your interests and skills even more. If you have some free time in the summer or after school, there may be flexible local or online volunteering that can expose you to new environments. Volunteer jobs can often be more hands-on, real-world experiences than some school clubs and classes are.
Here's an example: I volunteered in my high school library during free periods and realized I liked communicating with others, working with technology, and being organized, which influenced my future jobs and overall career path.
As far as honors versus regular math, I think it depends on whether or not a challenge or better grades are more important to you. You may want to talk to your school advisor or counselor and see what they think based on your current grades and the other courses you are enrolled in.
I will mention that I took regular math, then honors, then regular math again, and that the coursework gets more challenging as you level up whether you are in honors or not. By the time I took non-honors pre-calculus, for example, the coursework was still fairly interesting and challenging, and the instructor and my classmates were very engaged. Your GPA/weighted GPA preferences matter here, too, which is another consideration to discuss with your advisor/counselor.
You may also want to take some career aptitude and personality tests to see what career areas and majors are a good fit for you. If you excel in math, there are likely STEM majors that you would be a good fit for. If you aren't interested in STEM but still want to pursue a practical degree, business or education are options. If you want to pursue something you are passionate about, you could always look into minors in creative areas such as marketing or art, as well to keep your education rounded. This is another area that your high school should also be able to help with!
From there, you should be able to look up the UC schools that match your degree goals and find their acceptance rates.
Try some free online courses from Alison during school breaks or weekends to get a feel for college-level coursework and see what interests you the most and you feel you can excel in.
Beyond extracurriculars and coursework, you may want to look into volunteer opportunities to explore your interests and skills even more. If you have some free time in the summer or after school, there may be flexible local or online volunteering that can expose you to new environments. Volunteer jobs can often be more hands-on, real-world experiences than some school clubs and classes are.
Here's an example: I volunteered in my high school library during free periods and realized I liked communicating with others, working with technology, and being organized, which influenced my future jobs and overall career path.
As far as honors versus regular math, I think it depends on whether or not a challenge or better grades are more important to you. You may want to talk to your school advisor or counselor and see what they think based on your current grades and the other courses you are enrolled in.
I will mention that I took regular math, then honors, then regular math again, and that the coursework gets more challenging as you level up whether you are in honors or not. By the time I took non-honors pre-calculus, for example, the coursework was still fairly interesting and challenging, and the instructor and my classmates were very engaged. Your GPA/weighted GPA preferences matter here, too, which is another consideration to discuss with your advisor/counselor.
You may also want to take some career aptitude and personality tests to see what career areas and majors are a good fit for you. If you excel in math, there are likely STEM majors that you would be a good fit for. If you aren't interested in STEM but still want to pursue a practical degree, business or education are options. If you want to pursue something you are passionate about, you could always look into minors in creative areas such as marketing or art, as well to keep your education rounded. This is another area that your high school should also be able to help with!
From there, you should be able to look up the UC schools that match your degree goals and find their acceptance rates.
Lindsey recommends the following next steps:
You're answer is much appreciated, and I will take your advice to heart. The information you gave me is very valuable.
Ali
Kathy Risi
Substitute Teacher
6
Answers
Indialantic, Florida
Updated
Kathy’s Answer
Hi Ali! What are your interests? What subject(s) are you passionate about? Do you need more choices? I went into healthcare when I was in high school and continued to work as a pharmacy technician throughout college even though healthcare wasn't required of my Liberal Arts major. I know a lot of my classmates didn't see the nurse's clinic as a career field like I did. Liberal Arts is a "go to" major since a lot of the classes are prerequisites to continue in other fields.
There's a wealth of knowledge in health care, which I found out while working and even more so years later. Healthcare, and other fields for that matter can branch off into several sub-categories. I was lifeguarding over the summer, and my healthcare/pharmacy technician skill set came in handy. I was so thankful and proud of myself that I knew what I was doing and could apply it to helping others. Since you were in honor's math, I can infer you have your own skill set. I know it's imperative to understand the basics and praise you for taking a step back. I remember when I was in high school, I was offered to take a college level course in English but chose not to. Still, I have a passion for the subject and continue to foster my interest in it.
When I was transitioning from high school to college I felt like I didn't have a lot of options or knowledge about growing older and making money. I did not have any experience. Everyone kept asking me what I was interested in. Even my counselor asked me, "What are your interests?" I felt like everyone was repeating the same question-and they were. I wanted a list of choices, like what the heck was I going to do that I wanted to do and make enough money to live comfortably... at the very least? And even more so, hopefully to live luxuriously because I have champagne taste.
Simple enough that in elementary, middle, and high school we only have Math, Science, History, and English. However, there are so many different career options in the world! Like I said, who would have thought the clinic to be a possible career option? What about business? Do you like animals? How about law enforcement? There are a vast number of interesting jobs and careers you can find within the area of interest you choose. Once you choose, you will explore that area and narrow down what you want to do. Talk to people who know the field. Maybe even volunteer and see what you can dig up.
I don't think you will have any issues with acceptance since you have such a high GPA. The ball is in your court unless you apply for something like Princeton University or another Ivy League school that requires a lot of extras in addition to a high GPA. Those schools would want to see all honors classes, extra-curricular activities, etc. Do you want to go away to school, commute, or maybe even take the courses online? I am excited for you and wish you the very best on your journey!
There's a wealth of knowledge in health care, which I found out while working and even more so years later. Healthcare, and other fields for that matter can branch off into several sub-categories. I was lifeguarding over the summer, and my healthcare/pharmacy technician skill set came in handy. I was so thankful and proud of myself that I knew what I was doing and could apply it to helping others. Since you were in honor's math, I can infer you have your own skill set. I know it's imperative to understand the basics and praise you for taking a step back. I remember when I was in high school, I was offered to take a college level course in English but chose not to. Still, I have a passion for the subject and continue to foster my interest in it.
When I was transitioning from high school to college I felt like I didn't have a lot of options or knowledge about growing older and making money. I did not have any experience. Everyone kept asking me what I was interested in. Even my counselor asked me, "What are your interests?" I felt like everyone was repeating the same question-and they were. I wanted a list of choices, like what the heck was I going to do that I wanted to do and make enough money to live comfortably... at the very least? And even more so, hopefully to live luxuriously because I have champagne taste.
Simple enough that in elementary, middle, and high school we only have Math, Science, History, and English. However, there are so many different career options in the world! Like I said, who would have thought the clinic to be a possible career option? What about business? Do you like animals? How about law enforcement? There are a vast number of interesting jobs and careers you can find within the area of interest you choose. Once you choose, you will explore that area and narrow down what you want to do. Talk to people who know the field. Maybe even volunteer and see what you can dig up.
I don't think you will have any issues with acceptance since you have such a high GPA. The ball is in your court unless you apply for something like Princeton University or another Ivy League school that requires a lot of extras in addition to a high GPA. Those schools would want to see all honors classes, extra-curricular activities, etc. Do you want to go away to school, commute, or maybe even take the courses online? I am excited for you and wish you the very best on your journey!
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question.
Ali
Hayden Stine
Director of Global Talent Acquisition
8
Answers
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Updated
Hayden’s Answer
Hi Ali! I would suggest "taking a step back" and instead of thinking about specific jobs - think about what you enjoy doing. Do you like working with people? Face to face? Do you prefer working in technology behind the scenes? What about working with your hands? Think about a variety of questions like that.. and then it will help narrow ALL the various opportunities!
Thank you for the advice, Hayden.
Ali
Jori Lane
Senior Manager of Educational Programs at Xerox
8
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Jori’s Answer
Great job on your GPA! When you're choosing a college, it's a smart idea to pick one that offers a wide variety of majors—even if you think you already know what you want to study. As a high school student, your interests and goals might evolve as you take new classes, meet new people, or discover new passions. If your college has a broad selection of programs, it’ll be much easier to switch majors without having to transfer schools or lose progress toward your degree.
Also remember that college is a place to help figure out what you want to do with your life. Many people switch majors over time and that's not a bad thing. You don't have to have it all figured out today, part of your college experience is learning who you are and what you want to do for a career.
Also remember that college is a place to help figure out what you want to do with your life. Many people switch majors over time and that's not a bad thing. You don't have to have it all figured out today, part of your college experience is learning who you are and what you want to do for a career.
This was super helpful, thank you!
Ali
Kassie Wilson
Recruiter
5
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Kassie’s Answer
If you enjoy working with numbers, you have many options for majors and careers, such as in science, engineering, and technology. It's important to think about what you would enjoy doing full-time. Also, consider careers that are in demand and have long-term employment potential. With technology evolving, some fields may be declining while others are emerging. Spend some time looking at current job listings and researching companies you admire to see what career opportunities are available today. This can help you understand the qualifications needed for future jobs. Also, consider the investment you make in your education and whether it will pay off in terms of salary. Starting at a community college can be a cost-effective way to begin your education before moving to a more expensive university if you are still unsure on where to get started, get your basics and go from there!
Thank you so much for the advice.
Ali
Kelly Cameron
Organizational Effectiveness & Change Executive
1
Answer
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
Hi Ali! First off, I can tell you are very brilliant based on how you formulated your question and articulated it to us. I honestly don't think you will have many issues being successful at whatever path you decide to take. But to get to the heart of the question, I would recommend focusing on what brings you joy to your life. You will spend a large part of your life dedicated to what you do for a living, and from experience spending that time doing something you don't enjoy will lead to an unhappy experience for you. I would spend some time figuring out what makes you happy and you find interesting, then start to narrow down from here what career paths would bring you closer to this activity. For example, when I was younger, I was fascinated at how my grandfather made money with stocks. I would sit with him and listen to him for hours talk about various companies and why they would, or would not, be good investments. It seemed to bring him a sense of joy and I wanted the same, so I went to school and learned all I could about money, banking, and investments. This eventually led me to a career in banking and wealth management, which I excelled at for many years and worked my way up the corporate ladder. The second part of my advice is to make sure you leave room for new ideas and the ability to change your mind. While I had a very successful career in banking and wealth management, I learned that managing money was not what I enjoyed doing, but rather reorganizing the business for more efficient operations. This led me to going back to school and getting my first master's degree to learn more about organizational design and change management. I then moved into a new career where this was my sole focus and here I am today, leading organizational development and change management for a global company. To wrap up, explore what you enjoy doing, find a way to earn money at this, and keep your mind open to new things as they come along because you never know where they may lead you tomorrow! Best of luck on your journey!
Thank you so much!
Ali
Dawn Rice
Transformation Director
3
Answers
Webster, New York
Updated
Dawn’s Answer
Here are a few ideas and tools that have helped others (including my own kids!) when figuring out where to start:
1. Start with Self-Discovery
Think about what you enjoy, what you’re good at, and what matters to you. Ask yourself:
What kinds of activities make me lose track of time?
What subjects or tasks do I pick up easily?
What values are important to me in a job (stability, creativity, helping others, leadership, etc.)?
You might also try some online assessments like:
Holland Code (RIASEC)
CliftonStrengths
16Personalities
These can give you ideas about the types of work environments or roles that might be a good fit.
2. Try Things Out
One of the best ways to figure out what you don’t want (and maybe what you do) is through real experiences:
Volunteering: It gives you exposure to different work settings and communities. You’ll also build soft skills and confidence.
School Explorer/Pathways Programs: Many schools sponsor programs like medical, law enforcement, or STEM Explorers. These let you shadow professionals and get hands-on experience.
You can also reach out to people in careers you’re curious about and ask if they’d be open to a short call or shadowing visit.
3. Learn About What’s Out There
There are so many types of careers, and many don’t require a traditional 4-year degree. You can explore:
Different industries: Tech, healthcare, design, public service, trades, etc.
Different paths: College, community college, certifications, apprenticeships, on-the-job training
Future-focused areas like AI, clean energy, and data
4. Make a Few Small Goals
You don’t have to figure it all out at once. Some ideas:
Attend a local career fair or open house
Try an online course or YouTube deep dive in a field that interests you
Interview or shadow someone in a job you find interesting
5. Real Careers Are Rarely Straight Lines
Even people who are “successful” didn’t always know exactly what they wanted early on. It’s totally fine to try, pivot, and learn as you go. Keep an open mind, and collect experiences that teach you what you enjoy and what you’re great at.
1. Start with Self-Discovery
Think about what you enjoy, what you’re good at, and what matters to you. Ask yourself:
What kinds of activities make me lose track of time?
What subjects or tasks do I pick up easily?
What values are important to me in a job (stability, creativity, helping others, leadership, etc.)?
You might also try some online assessments like:
Holland Code (RIASEC)
CliftonStrengths
16Personalities
These can give you ideas about the types of work environments or roles that might be a good fit.
2. Try Things Out
One of the best ways to figure out what you don’t want (and maybe what you do) is through real experiences:
Volunteering: It gives you exposure to different work settings and communities. You’ll also build soft skills and confidence.
School Explorer/Pathways Programs: Many schools sponsor programs like medical, law enforcement, or STEM Explorers. These let you shadow professionals and get hands-on experience.
You can also reach out to people in careers you’re curious about and ask if they’d be open to a short call or shadowing visit.
3. Learn About What’s Out There
There are so many types of careers, and many don’t require a traditional 4-year degree. You can explore:
Different industries: Tech, healthcare, design, public service, trades, etc.
Different paths: College, community college, certifications, apprenticeships, on-the-job training
Future-focused areas like AI, clean energy, and data
4. Make a Few Small Goals
You don’t have to figure it all out at once. Some ideas:
Attend a local career fair or open house
Try an online course or YouTube deep dive in a field that interests you
Interview or shadow someone in a job you find interesting
5. Real Careers Are Rarely Straight Lines
Even people who are “successful” didn’t always know exactly what they wanted early on. It’s totally fine to try, pivot, and learn as you go. Keep an open mind, and collect experiences that teach you what you enjoy and what you’re great at.
I appreciate you taking the time to answer this.
Ali
Dzejna Halilovic
Talent Acquisition Partner
5
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Dzejna’s Answer
Hi Ali! Great job on keeping your high GPA while being involved in extracurricular activities. You're already ahead by thinking about your future and career goals. Remember, your guidance counselor is there to help you find the right path. In college, you'll spend the first two years on general education courses before diving into your major. This gives you time to gain work experience and learn from others who've succeeded in their careers. Keep taking Honors classes in high school; they look great on college applications and show your dedication and ability to tackle challenges. You're on the right track for success. When applying to colleges, your GPA and involvement in Honors and activities will matter. Don't hesitate to use your guidance counselor and teachers as resources. I wish you all the best and good luck with everything!
Talk to as many resources at your school/peers to gain insight into their goals which may help guide you.
It is completely alright if you haven't figured out exactly what you want to do, a lot of people don't know until they get real world experience and start learning the specific subject.
Dzejna recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for the advice, Dzejna.
Ali
Monte Sheppard
Security Manager
3
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Monte’s Answer
Your GPA is amazing and can lead to many exciting opportunities. Think about what you love doing and consider your interests and career goals. Your school’s guidance office can help you find possible career paths, and there are lots of online resources too. Good luck with your search, and wishing you all the best for your future!
Thank you so much!
Ali
Stephanie Gaspardo
Accountant
1
Answer
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Stephanie’s Answer
Hi Ali!! Based on your grades, I would recommend staying in the honors math for at least another year... most colleges would prefer to see you challenge yourself rather than take an easier course just to inflate your GPA. As far as exploring majors and careers, I would look to social media! Just search on TikTok "marketing major" "psych major" etc. and you'll probably be able to see a bunch of days in the life, advice, and other short-form content that will just give you a brief overview of what to expect!
This was super helpful, thank you!
Ali
Lisa Sandford
Learning & Development
6
Answers
Solihull, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Lisa’s Answer
You’re doing great! With your 4.0 GPA and diverse interests (dance, art, math, clubs), here’s what to consider:
Explore majors based on what you enjoy:
Creative → Art, Dance, Design
Analytical → Math, Econ, CS
People-focused → Psych, Comm, Education
Try Honors Math if regular math felt too slow—challenge helps with UC applications.
UC Schools to Aim For:
Top-tier: UCLA (~9–11%), Berkeley (~11–15%)
Mid-tier: UCSD, UCI, UCSB (~25–30%)
Accessible: UCSC, UCR, UC Merced (40–85%)
Next steps: Join clubs, take challenging classes, explore what excites you. You don’t need to decide now—just keep discovering!
Explore majors based on what you enjoy:
Creative → Art, Dance, Design
Analytical → Math, Econ, CS
People-focused → Psych, Comm, Education
Try Honors Math if regular math felt too slow—challenge helps with UC applications.
UC Schools to Aim For:
Top-tier: UCLA (~9–11%), Berkeley (~11–15%)
Mid-tier: UCSD, UCI, UCSB (~25–30%)
Accessible: UCSC, UCR, UC Merced (40–85%)
Next steps: Join clubs, take challenging classes, explore what excites you. You don’t need to decide now—just keep discovering!
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Ali
Phill Pezo
Industrial Design
103
Answers
Nutley, New Jersey
Updated
Phill’s Answer
Hey Ali,
It is great to hear that you are starting to consider what major you would like to study in college. It can be a difficult talk trying to choose a major as it is a big decision. However, it will not determine the success of your future. Remember, you can always change your major if you so decide to along the way. Yes, it is important to be financially stable later in life when you might have debts to pay. But it is most important to do something that makes you happy so that work does not feel like work. Keep in mind that you do have a lot more time than you think and that it does not all have to be sorted out now. It is good to start to take some steps to knowing we can be flexible.
Deciding a career path can be tricky when we are not able to see how a career might look for that field. Go to one of the locations of where you do your activities and talk to those who teach you. You can ask them questions and perhaps even as to observe for a day. Whether it is dancing or art classes, you can talk to your teachers or anyone else you might know who are in these fields and ask how they got into it. See what are some of the challenges and try to observe what they are doing when they are not directly teaching you.
You can also start taking a look at college websites to see what courses they provide. If there are any that peak your interest, reach out to a professor, enrolled student, or admin. They usually have emails on the website and have student social media pages you can try to reach out to.
Best of luck with your search!
It is great to hear that you are starting to consider what major you would like to study in college. It can be a difficult talk trying to choose a major as it is a big decision. However, it will not determine the success of your future. Remember, you can always change your major if you so decide to along the way. Yes, it is important to be financially stable later in life when you might have debts to pay. But it is most important to do something that makes you happy so that work does not feel like work. Keep in mind that you do have a lot more time than you think and that it does not all have to be sorted out now. It is good to start to take some steps to knowing we can be flexible.
Deciding a career path can be tricky when we are not able to see how a career might look for that field. Go to one of the locations of where you do your activities and talk to those who teach you. You can ask them questions and perhaps even as to observe for a day. Whether it is dancing or art classes, you can talk to your teachers or anyone else you might know who are in these fields and ask how they got into it. See what are some of the challenges and try to observe what they are doing when they are not directly teaching you.
You can also start taking a look at college websites to see what courses they provide. If there are any that peak your interest, reach out to a professor, enrolled student, or admin. They usually have emails on the website and have student social media pages you can try to reach out to.
Best of luck with your search!
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Ali
Ann Russo
Enterprise Sales and Contract Management
2
Answers
Sandusky, Ohio
Updated
Ann’s Answer
I would encourage you to start with core classes and explore additional areas of interest by taking one or two non-core classes at a time. Extra-curricular activities and volunteering are also great ways to gain additional exposure. I would also encourage you to continue developing your math and science skills, as they will benefit you in any career as technology plays a key role in any business.
Take advantage of any career testing available.
Brows course catalogs to see what intrigues you.
Ann recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much for the advice.
Ali
Jack Ray
IT Auditor/Consultant
1
Answer
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Jack’s Answer
Hello, I would recommend to speak and network with people from multiple different fields you are considering majoring in. See what their day-to-day is. Ask what they like about their jobs and what they don't like about their jobs. See what skills they use on a daily basis. Stuff like that can help show what a major actually leads to rather than just seeing classes listed on a curriculum. You seem like a driven person who is eager to find your purpose, and I would recommend to just get exposed to as much as you can. The more information you have, the more informed your decision-making will be when it comes time to select your major officially. Best of luck!
Thanks for your encouragement!
Ali
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