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How should I decide my major for college?
I’m now a junior in a high school, and I’m really confused with what major I’m willing to take in college. I have some experience and knowledge about Psychology since I used to be really interested in learning something related to Psychology and brain. However, I’m getting more interest in education rather than psychology. But, the problem is that I don’t know anything about education and what lessons I will be able to learn if I chose education major for college. Moreover, I’m wondering what things/activities I should do if I’m planning to take education major for my college.
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Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Consultant and Freelance Writer, TRIO Program Administrator
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Paul’s Answer
There are several things that you can do in order to determine what you want to major in when you attend college.
Remember, you will have two years (until you declare a major at the beginning of your junior year in college), to make a final determination, of what you want to do. So, definitely take advantage of this time and complete your General University Requirements (during your first two years), so you can eventually progress into a major.
You might start out by exploring your personal interests and strengths through activities like career assessments and the courses that you will be taking in your first two years. There will be a variety of things, that you will be taking. This includes Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Math, and other courses. So definitely use these classes to determine where your strongest interests are.
Next, research different majors, their course content, and potential career paths by conducting informational interviews with professors and people at the college career center, and investigating job market trends.
Finally, consider your long-term goals and values, and remember that it is okay to start as an undecided student and change your major as you learn more about yourself and different fields.
I have a basic formula, when it comes to determining a major or a future occupation related to that major. Choose something that you love to do, not just a passion, but really love. It must be something that you love so much, that even if they did not pay you to do it, you would still do it anyway. American historian, David McCullough, said it even more clearly. He stated that he loved writing about history so much, that he would have paid someone, so that he could do it every day. His love of his major and occupation was this great.
Remember, you will have two years (until you declare a major at the beginning of your junior year in college), to make a final determination, of what you want to do. So, definitely take advantage of this time and complete your General University Requirements (during your first two years), so you can eventually progress into a major.
You might start out by exploring your personal interests and strengths through activities like career assessments and the courses that you will be taking in your first two years. There will be a variety of things, that you will be taking. This includes Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Math, and other courses. So definitely use these classes to determine where your strongest interests are.
Next, research different majors, their course content, and potential career paths by conducting informational interviews with professors and people at the college career center, and investigating job market trends.
Finally, consider your long-term goals and values, and remember that it is okay to start as an undecided student and change your major as you learn more about yourself and different fields.
I have a basic formula, when it comes to determining a major or a future occupation related to that major. Choose something that you love to do, not just a passion, but really love. It must be something that you love so much, that even if they did not pay you to do it, you would still do it anyway. American historian, David McCullough, said it even more clearly. He stated that he loved writing about history so much, that he would have paid someone, so that he could do it every day. His love of his major and occupation was this great.
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Magan’s Answer
Thanks for sharing your thoughts—it's great that you're exploring both Psychology and Education so thoughtfully! I can relate to your situation because I’ve also had to weigh different interests when thinking about college majors.
If you're leaning toward Education, you're definitely not alone in feeling unsure about what it involves. Education majors typically study how people learn, how to design effective lessons, and how to support students with different needs. You’ll likely take classes like Educational Psychology, Child Development, Classroom Management, and Curriculum Design. These courses help you understand both the theory and practice of teaching.
To get a better feel for the field, I’d recommend:
Volunteering at a local school or tutoring younger students—this gives you hands-on experience.
Joining clubs like Future Educators of America or any school organizations focused on mentoring.
Exploring virtual opportunities, like CareerVillage.org, where you can give advice to younger students and earn volunteer hours at the same time.
Also, don’t worry about not knowing everything right now. College is a place to explore and grow. You might even find that your interest in Psychology complements Education—many educators use psychological principles to support student learning and development.
If you're leaning toward Education, you're definitely not alone in feeling unsure about what it involves. Education majors typically study how people learn, how to design effective lessons, and how to support students with different needs. You’ll likely take classes like Educational Psychology, Child Development, Classroom Management, and Curriculum Design. These courses help you understand both the theory and practice of teaching.
To get a better feel for the field, I’d recommend:
Volunteering at a local school or tutoring younger students—this gives you hands-on experience.
Joining clubs like Future Educators of America or any school organizations focused on mentoring.
Exploring virtual opportunities, like CareerVillage.org, where you can give advice to younger students and earn volunteer hours at the same time.
Also, don’t worry about not knowing everything right now. College is a place to explore and grow. You might even find that your interest in Psychology complements Education—many educators use psychological principles to support student learning and development.
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Wong’s Answer
Choosing your major for college is an important decision, and it's completely normal to feel unsure about it, especially as a high school junior. The best way to decide is to explore your interests, skills, and long-term goals. Since you mentioned that you have experience and knowledge in psychology but are becoming more interested in education, you can start by learning more about what each major offers.
If you are curious about the education major, you can research what classes are usually included. Most education programs include lessons about teaching methods, classroom management, educational psychology, and how to design lesson plans. You might also learn about how schools work and how to support different kinds of learners. Some programs even let students specialize in certain areas, like early childhood education, special education, or secondary education. To get a better understanding, you can look at course descriptions on university websites or talk to teachers or college advisors.
If you're planning to take education as your major, there are many activities you can do now to prepare. You could volunteer to tutor younger students, help at an after-school program, or assist teachers in your school. These experiences will help you understand what it's like to work with students and will look great on your college applications.
If you are curious about the education major, you can research what classes are usually included. Most education programs include lessons about teaching methods, classroom management, educational psychology, and how to design lesson plans. You might also learn about how schools work and how to support different kinds of learners. Some programs even let students specialize in certain areas, like early childhood education, special education, or secondary education. To get a better understanding, you can look at course descriptions on university websites or talk to teachers or college advisors.
If you're planning to take education as your major, there are many activities you can do now to prepare. You could volunteer to tutor younger students, help at an after-school program, or assist teachers in your school. These experiences will help you understand what it's like to work with students and will look great on your college applications.
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Nicolas’s Answer
Choosing a major can be an exciting journey, and there are a few things to keep in mind to make the best choice:
1. Discover what excites you and learn more about it. Think about what you love doing and connect with people in that field to get their advice. LinkedIn is a great place to start.
2. Explore the career paths your major could lead to. Many people don't work in the field they studied, so if you're unsure, a general degree like business might be better than a very specific one like interior design.
3. Consider the practical and financial aspects of a career path. For example, if you want to work in agriculture, you might not live in a big city like New York. Also, think about the earning potential and how it fits with your goals.
1. Discover what excites you and learn more about it. Think about what you love doing and connect with people in that field to get their advice. LinkedIn is a great place to start.
2. Explore the career paths your major could lead to. Many people don't work in the field they studied, so if you're unsure, a general degree like business might be better than a very specific one like interior design.
3. Consider the practical and financial aspects of a career path. For example, if you want to work in agriculture, you might not live in a big city like New York. Also, think about the earning potential and how it fits with your goals.
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TRAVIS’s Answer
I suggest that you complete as many college credits now via dual credit, AP or CLEP testing before you graduate high school. That will give you more time to focus on a major when you go into college. This will save you time, money and prepare you for whatever major you choose/
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Kangana’s Answer
Hey,
It's completely normal to feel unsure about your major, but I also understand that it can feel a little overwhelming. You can go into an Arts and Science school in any college of your choice, they usually offer education as a major as well as psychology. The first two years are typically where you complete your core classes and take a few electives; use that time to explore and see what you want. As well as network with people around you who are pursuing similar interests, which can help you gain clarity on what you truly want.
As for activities, I recommend joining clubs related to education or psychology and doing some online/in-person tutoring in your free time. This will allow you to get real-world experience and decide if you want to be in the education sector or which sector you want to be in.
It's completely normal to feel unsure about your major, but I also understand that it can feel a little overwhelming. You can go into an Arts and Science school in any college of your choice, they usually offer education as a major as well as psychology. The first two years are typically where you complete your core classes and take a few electives; use that time to explore and see what you want. As well as network with people around you who are pursuing similar interests, which can help you gain clarity on what you truly want.
As for activities, I recommend joining clubs related to education or psychology and doing some online/in-person tutoring in your free time. This will allow you to get real-world experience and decide if you want to be in the education sector or which sector you want to be in.
Updated
David’s Answer
Pick a major by thinking about what you love and what you want to do in the future. If you're unsure between psychology and education, consider what makes you excited—learning about how the mind works or helping others learn. Education majors often study how to teach, how kids grow and learn, how to plan lessons, and how to manage a classroom. To get a feel for it, try volunteering at schools, tutoring, or joining clubs related to education to see if you like it. Remember, your major should match what you enjoy doing every day, not just what seems interesting right now. You can always mix your interests later with electives or minors.
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Don’s Answer
Hello Yun,
It is good that you are thinking about possible careers in education and possibly psychology. If you feel like you want to major in education I would suggest getting your degrees done, gain experience in the field, network with people already in the field, focus on your development/skills, work hard and complete the necessary requirements/coursework necessary. You can still learn about psychology through books, videos and much more that would help you in terms of education. Best of luck to you on your educational journey!
It is good that you are thinking about possible careers in education and possibly psychology. If you feel like you want to major in education I would suggest getting your degrees done, gain experience in the field, network with people already in the field, focus on your development/skills, work hard and complete the necessary requirements/coursework necessary. You can still learn about psychology through books, videos and much more that would help you in terms of education. Best of luck to you on your educational journey!
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Kirza’s Answer
In my first year of college, I took many beginner classes in different areas. They helped me discover what I enjoyed and what I didn't want to continue with.
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Colleen’s Answer
Choosing a major doesn't tie you down to one career. I work with many people who have taken different and exciting career paths. Pick something you find interesting and that keeps you motivated. Once you have your degree, you can decide what to do next. You can always change direction or add new skills along the way.
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Fatima’s Answer
You can be a teacher in any field you go into. I was a high school science teacher right out of college, but I always wanted to study medicine. A few years later, I went back to nursing school. Now I teach new graduate nurses how to perform clinical duties at the bedside. I would suggest that you volunteer as a pre-school teacher or a tutor to see if you really love teaching others. Then I'd consider other areas of interest that you could do. Teaching at the grade school level is one of the hardest jobs with a high burn out rate. Teachers are severely underpaid, yet without them, we'd have no doctors, lawyers, nurses, engineers, etc. It's rewarding work, but can be incredibly stressful.
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Jay’s Answer
Choosing to major in education opens up a world of learning about teaching methods, managing classrooms, and understanding how students grow and learn. You'll often get to practice in real classrooms, which is exciting. To get ready, you can try tutoring, mentoring, or working with kids. You might also enjoy shadowing teachers to see what the job is like. Taking beginner courses in education and psychology in college can also help you discover which areas you are most passionate about.
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anwar’s Answer
What are some things you like to do in your free time or when you're not busy? That's a clue for what you might wanna do.