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As a college student, how can I explore my options for a major before I declare it?
I am a college freshman and have not yet declared my major. I want to properly explore my options and my preferred major before committing to one. How can I do this so that I am confident and happy in what I choose?
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4 answers
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Morgan. There are many ways you can explore different options before declaring your major to make sure you pick something that suits you.
You can talk to your academic advisor and professors, and ask for more information. Advisors can help guide you through the process and give you advice on different majors. Professors are a good resource too, they can share what it's like to work in their field and offer insights about the courses and careers related to their subjects. They might even give you advice on whether the major would be a good fit for you based on your strengths.
You can also take a variety of introductory classes in different subjects. Many colleges offer general education courses as well as basic classes in fields like business, science, or social studies. By trying different subjects, you can figure out what you enjoy and what you might be good at. It also helps you learn about fields you might not have considered before. This is an easy way to discover new interests.
Joining clubs or extracurricular activities related to different fields is also a great way to explore. If you're interested in business, for example, there may be clubs that focus on marketing, finance, or entrepreneurship. Being a part of these groups can give you a taste of what working in that field might be like and help you decide if it's something you want to pursue.
Another way to explore is through internships or job shadowing. Some internships are open to freshmen, and they allow you to experience real-world work in a field you're considering. Job shadowing lets you spend time with professionals and see what their daily work is like. This can help you understand whether that career is something you'd want to do in the future.
You can talk to your academic advisor and professors, and ask for more information. Advisors can help guide you through the process and give you advice on different majors. Professors are a good resource too, they can share what it's like to work in their field and offer insights about the courses and careers related to their subjects. They might even give you advice on whether the major would be a good fit for you based on your strengths.
You can also take a variety of introductory classes in different subjects. Many colleges offer general education courses as well as basic classes in fields like business, science, or social studies. By trying different subjects, you can figure out what you enjoy and what you might be good at. It also helps you learn about fields you might not have considered before. This is an easy way to discover new interests.
Joining clubs or extracurricular activities related to different fields is also a great way to explore. If you're interested in business, for example, there may be clubs that focus on marketing, finance, or entrepreneurship. Being a part of these groups can give you a taste of what working in that field might be like and help you decide if it's something you want to pursue.
Another way to explore is through internships or job shadowing. Some internships are open to freshmen, and they allow you to experience real-world work in a field you're considering. Job shadowing lets you spend time with professionals and see what their daily work is like. This can help you understand whether that career is something you'd want to do in the future.
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Honestly, the best way to figure out your major is just to sample a bunch of things early on. Talk to students in different majors, grab coffee with professors, and ask what the work is actually like. Try out a few clubs or project groups. They give you a low-pressure way to see what you actually enjoy doing. Take some breadth or intro classes your first year so you can test out different subjects.
And don’t forget your career/college counselors. They’re literally there to help you sort through your interests and options, and they usually have great insights on what different paths look like.
Do all that and you’ll naturally start to notice what you’re excited to learn more about, which is a pretty solid sign you’re picking the right major.
And don’t forget your career/college counselors. They’re literally there to help you sort through your interests and options, and they usually have great insights on what different paths look like.
Do all that and you’ll naturally start to notice what you’re excited to learn more about, which is a pretty solid sign you’re picking the right major.
Sounds great, thanks!
Morgan
Updated
Noah’s Answer
Hi Morgan,
This is very dependent on the school and how flexible they are with the classes you can take, but there are a couple things you can do:
-- Shortlist the majors that are interesting to you and their class requirements --
You should take the time to jot down the majors that you are considering and their class requirements. Chances are there may be some overlapping requirements (e.g., if you were considering Physics and Engineering, you may need Intro Calculus for both) that can count for a few of the majors you are considering. It may be worth taking some of these foundational requirements early to keep the door open.
-- See if you can take intro courses for that major --
Many degrees have an introductory course for that major (e.g., Introductory Economics for the Economics Major). If your schedule allows, see if you can take 1-2 of these introductory courses across the majors that you are considering most. This can help give you a flavor of the content of the major.
-- Talk to an academic advisor --
Its worth chatting with your direct academic advisor about the majors you are considering - they can help you think through courses to take / ways to learn more.
More importantly, however, many departments have department advisors / peer student advisors for that major - use these! They can provide much more information on what it would be like to study X major and answer more specific questions that a general academic advisors.
-- Talk to other students --
One of the best ways to learn about a major is to reach out to Juniors and Seniors of that major! They can give you more insight of what it's like to be an student in the department, the pros and cons, and job opportunities. They probably went through a similar decision process as you and can help you think through your choice.
Hope this helps!
This is very dependent on the school and how flexible they are with the classes you can take, but there are a couple things you can do:
-- Shortlist the majors that are interesting to you and their class requirements --
You should take the time to jot down the majors that you are considering and their class requirements. Chances are there may be some overlapping requirements (e.g., if you were considering Physics and Engineering, you may need Intro Calculus for both) that can count for a few of the majors you are considering. It may be worth taking some of these foundational requirements early to keep the door open.
-- See if you can take intro courses for that major --
Many degrees have an introductory course for that major (e.g., Introductory Economics for the Economics Major). If your schedule allows, see if you can take 1-2 of these introductory courses across the majors that you are considering most. This can help give you a flavor of the content of the major.
-- Talk to an academic advisor --
Its worth chatting with your direct academic advisor about the majors you are considering - they can help you think through courses to take / ways to learn more.
More importantly, however, many departments have department advisors / peer student advisors for that major - use these! They can provide much more information on what it would be like to study X major and answer more specific questions that a general academic advisors.
-- Talk to other students --
One of the best ways to learn about a major is to reach out to Juniors and Seniors of that major! They can give you more insight of what it's like to be an student in the department, the pros and cons, and job opportunities. They probably went through a similar decision process as you and can help you think through your choice.
Hope this helps!
Noah, thank you!
Morgan
Updated
Rick’s Answer
Morgan,
You’ve received a lot of solid answers already, practical, logical guidance from many thoughtful people. All of that is valuable. What I’d like to offer you is something different: the personal truth of how I found the right major for me.
To be honest, when I entered college, I had no clue what I should major in. High school gave me facts and figures, but no insight into what I was actually good at or what subject felt right emotionally. During my freshman year alone, I changed my major four times—engineering, accounting, history, and one I don’t even remember because it only lasted a few days. Here’s the key word in that sentence: felt. Logic guided me into each of those majors. Emotion told me none of them were right.
That was my first real lesson: logic can point you toward options, but only your feelings can tell you when you’ve found the right fit.
I had to pay my own way through college, so I worked many jobs, waiting tables in a deli, working an assembly line at a major bakery, packaging shipments for a pharmaceutical supply company. I disliked every one of them. But in hindsight, those jobs were teaching me something important: they showed me what I was not meant to do.
The real insight came during the summer between my sophomore and junior year. I was working at a mobile home sales lot, trucking new homes to buyers. I observed the owner trying to sell, and honestly, he was terrible at it. His first words to almost every prospect were, “If I make you a good deal, will you buy today?” It was all about him, not the customer.
During my last month before returning to campus, I asked if I could try selling. He resisted, said I was too young at 19, but finally gave in. That final month I sold eleven homes. He typically sold only two or three a month. My commission check was just under $1,000, which was a huge amount of money in the 1960s.
How did I do it? Very simply. I greeted people. Learned their names. Asked what they needed. And most importantly, I asked this question:
“Tell me about yourself.” Ten minutes later, we weren’t strangers anymore; we were friends. They trusted me because I truly listened. And something powerful happened inside me. My emotions lit up like a giant Christmas tree. I felt it. For the first time in my life, I knew I had found what I was naturally good at. I returned to campus, changed my major to economics, and went on to become a successful stockbroker for more than 45 years.
So here is your truth, Morgan: You are brilliant at something. You just haven’t uncovered it yet. You discover it by trying things. By paying attention to what drains you, and what energizes you. And when you finally find it, your emotions will tell you instantly. Trust that feeling when it comes.
I wish you the very best in your college years and in what I already know will be a successful and fulfilling life.
Rick
You’ve received a lot of solid answers already, practical, logical guidance from many thoughtful people. All of that is valuable. What I’d like to offer you is something different: the personal truth of how I found the right major for me.
To be honest, when I entered college, I had no clue what I should major in. High school gave me facts and figures, but no insight into what I was actually good at or what subject felt right emotionally. During my freshman year alone, I changed my major four times—engineering, accounting, history, and one I don’t even remember because it only lasted a few days. Here’s the key word in that sentence: felt. Logic guided me into each of those majors. Emotion told me none of them were right.
That was my first real lesson: logic can point you toward options, but only your feelings can tell you when you’ve found the right fit.
I had to pay my own way through college, so I worked many jobs, waiting tables in a deli, working an assembly line at a major bakery, packaging shipments for a pharmaceutical supply company. I disliked every one of them. But in hindsight, those jobs were teaching me something important: they showed me what I was not meant to do.
The real insight came during the summer between my sophomore and junior year. I was working at a mobile home sales lot, trucking new homes to buyers. I observed the owner trying to sell, and honestly, he was terrible at it. His first words to almost every prospect were, “If I make you a good deal, will you buy today?” It was all about him, not the customer.
During my last month before returning to campus, I asked if I could try selling. He resisted, said I was too young at 19, but finally gave in. That final month I sold eleven homes. He typically sold only two or three a month. My commission check was just under $1,000, which was a huge amount of money in the 1960s.
How did I do it? Very simply. I greeted people. Learned their names. Asked what they needed. And most importantly, I asked this question:
“Tell me about yourself.” Ten minutes later, we weren’t strangers anymore; we were friends. They trusted me because I truly listened. And something powerful happened inside me. My emotions lit up like a giant Christmas tree. I felt it. For the first time in my life, I knew I had found what I was naturally good at. I returned to campus, changed my major to economics, and went on to become a successful stockbroker for more than 45 years.
So here is your truth, Morgan: You are brilliant at something. You just haven’t uncovered it yet. You discover it by trying things. By paying attention to what drains you, and what energizes you. And when you finally find it, your emotions will tell you instantly. Trust that feeling when it comes.
I wish you the very best in your college years and in what I already know will be a successful and fulfilling life.
Rick