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How do I narrow down my options?

I have absolutely no idea what I want to do or what I what college major to choose. I know some of the things I'm interested in (writing, literature, music, philosophy, direct care) but how can I narrow it down?

writing music-industry helping-others philosophy english-literature
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Greg’s Answer

Volunteer and try everything. Learn more about each field, what it entails, how it works. Shadow people, if you are able. There's much you can glean from reading and research, but ultimately it'll be your lived experience that shows clearly your path. So if you have multiple interests, dabble in them for 2-3 months at a time, and see what sticks. And even if something doesn't, it can still be a secondary area you can do, either to complement your primary or just for fun. There are plenty of things I wouldn't do for a living, but enjoy the heck out of otherwise.
Thank you comment icon This is really helpful, thank you! Bella
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Wong’s Answer

There are a few steps you can take to help narrow down your options. First, you need to take some time to learn more about each interest. For example, look into what kinds of jobs people do with a degree in writing or music. You can search online, watch videos, or even talk to someone who works in those fields. Try to learn what a day in their job looks like and what kind of education they needed.

Second, think about what matters most to you. Do you want to help people directly, like in healthcare or counseling? Do you enjoy expressing yourself through art or writing? Do you want a job that allows deep thinking and discussion, like philosophy or teaching? Your values can help guide your choice.

Also, try things out. If possible, take different classes in high school or try activities like writing for the school paper, joining a music group, or volunteering in care settings. This can help you see what you enjoy doing most.

Remember, many colleges let you start without choosing a major right away. You can explore different subjects in your first year before deciding. And even if you pick a major, you can still change it later.

What matters most is choosing something you enjoy and that fits your strengths.
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jose’s Answer

I will echo what others said: try things and take note of what you like and what you don't.
Also- talk to other college kids, professors and professionals.
Here's another take: When thinking about college, think about the college experience and not just the academics. A big part of college education is what happens outside the classroom. And not everything is related to a major. some students have an amazing college experience because of the social clubs they get to join or the friends they get to meet or simply because of the campus' location. (whether it's close or far from home)
someone once told me "Don't think about what profession you want as an adult- think about what problems you'd like to solve and find what will help you learn how to go about that" and I think that's a great way to think about things.
Thank you comment icon thank you! I appreciate this! Bella
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George’s Answer

Greetings Bella,

First, it’s completely normal to feel like you have no idea what you want to do in the future or what college major to pick. Most people don’t figure it out right away. It’s very common to only discover your path after you try a few different things and see what feels right. The good news is, you already know a few areas that interest you—writing, literature, music, philosophy, and helping people directly. That’s a really strong starting point because it gives you some clues about what types of activities make you feel alive or curious. You don’t need to pick a career right this second; instead, you can use these interests as a guide to start exploring options.

A good first step is paying attention to what truly excites you and noticing the difference between things that energize you and things that feel like work. For example, when you write or read, do you get lost in it and feel inspired, or does it feel more like homework? With music, is it the act of creating or performing that you enjoy, or is it how music makes you and others feel? In philosophy, do you enjoy thinking about big abstract ideas for fun, or are you more drawn to using those ideas to help people make decisions or solve problems? And when it comes to direct care, do you like simply being there for someone, helping them solve problems, or seeing the impact of your help in their life? Paying attention to these feelings can give you very clear hints about what kinds of work or study will make you feel motivated instead of drained.

Another important question is how you want to make an impact in the world. Some people love working with individuals one-on-one, while others prefer reaching lots of people at once. For example, if you like helping one person at a time, you might enjoy nursing, therapy, tutoring, coaching, or mentoring. If you prefer impacting a larger group, then writing books, teaching, creating apps, or working on community programs could feel more satisfying. Thinking about this can help you see which types of careers or majors align with the kind of influence you want to have.

Before committing to a major, it helps to test things out. You don’t need to figure everything out just by thinking. You can try volunteering in a library, music program, school, or care center. Joining clubs for writing, music, or philosophy can also give you hands-on experience. Even taking short online courses or electives in school can show you what you actually enjoy. Small experiences like these give you a clearer sense of what feels natural and what feels forced.

Another helpful approach is to look for ways your interests connect. Often, your ideal path is at the intersection of multiple things you love. For example, combining writing and philosophy might lead to careers in journalism, essay writing, or creating content that explores ideas. Pairing music with helping people could point toward music therapy or teaching music to children or special populations. And combining literature with direct care might open doors to literacy programs, storytelling initiatives, or teaching English. Thinking about your interests in combination can reveal paths you may not have considered.

The most important thing to remember is that you don’t need to have your entire life planned out right now. Start by making a small list of 3–5 areas that genuinely interest you, and then explore each one through classes, clubs, volunteering, or small projects. Over time, as you get hands-on experience and notice what feels exciting versus exhausting, your best options will start to stand out naturally. The process is about experimenting, learning about yourself, and gradually narrowing down your choices.
Thank you comment icon I found this response incredibly helpful. Thank you for taking the time to write it! Bella
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Don’s Answer

Hello Bella,

It is good that you have many different interests and possible careers that you want to do in life. To narrow down your options I would say to focus on your interests, do research on 2-3 of those interests, evaluate your goals that you have in life, assess the skills you have, try different jobs or internships, speak with important people in your life and take time to understand who you are as a person. I know that you will find a path in one of these interests and I wish you the best of luck in your journey!
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Nerwin’s Answer

Hi Bella,

It's completely normal to feel unsure about what to study. When I faced this decision, I thought back to what interested me as a child. Then, I made a list of careers that seemed like a good fit. This helped me research those jobs and understand what they involved. Try making your own list of careers and see which ones feel right for you. If there's a major that lets you explore more than one passion, it might be the perfect choice for you.
Thank you comment icon This is really great advice. I definitely want to pursue something my younger self loved to do. Thanks! Bella
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Rebecca’s Answer

Thank you for your question. I am glad to know that you have a wide range of interest.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about what your interest and identify the related careers.
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a singer, musician, musical artist, music producer, music composer, etc.
If you have interest in writing, would you like to be journalist, novel writer, translator, web content creator, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
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Margie’s Answer

I graduated with a degree in elementary education, but now I work in marketing at a big tech company. It's quite different from what I expected! The main thing to remember is that you're not stuck in one career forever. Many young professionals change jobs every 2-3 years. In college, try to take some general studies and develop core skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork. These are valuable in any job and aren't usually taught on the job. For instance, as a teacher, I learned to focus on the end goal, which helps me in marketing today. It's about showing companies what skills you bring, like leadership, without needing extra training. College is a great time to improve your strengths, but don't worry if your first career choice doesn't feel right. You can always work towards a new path. Changing careers wasn't easy for me, but I'm glad I found a field that fits my skills. But my point is that you aren't stuck in just one path, you can always change!
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Goodera’s Answer

My first advice is to choose something you enjoy and feel passionate about. Consider subjects that might complement each other well.

Goodera recommends the following next steps:

Take a look online at courses that combine some of your passion areas - this way you can start to see how you will envisage your future. Then take a look at the future careers based upon the subject courses. Can you see yourself doing this in the future? This will help you investigate further or look at other courses
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