10 answers
Nitai
Student
1
Question
Updated
714 views
How and when should you know you are in the right major?
I'm a senior planning on studying chemistry at the University of Virginia next year. But I also am not certain that is what I want to pursue. I hear a lot about people changing majors quite a bit in college, but I feel like a lot of the perception of a subject is based on specific classes and professors. How can I be sure that I am doing something that will set me up for a career I enjoy and what should I consider when I have to officially declare my major?
Login to comment
10 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Advisor | Freelance Writer | TRIO Program Director
1094
Answers
Tacoma, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Hi Nitai:
As an advisor I always emphasized that finding the right major is a process of passion-driven exploration rather than a race to pick for the highest salary. When I met with students, I advocated for a "deep connection" to their field of study.
Here are some suggestions to indicate if you're in the right major:
The Library Test: You know it's the right fit if you find yourself in the library or online reading about the subject during your free time just because you want to learn more.
The "No Pay" Rule: Ask yourself if you would still study or work in that field even if you weren't paid for it.
First-In, Last-Out: A perfect fit is a path where you are excited enough to be the first one in the classroom and the last to leave
Self-Reflection: Use personality or Myers-Briggs tests to understand your strengths.
Informational Interviews: Talk to professors and professionals already working in that field to understand daily satisfaction.
Hands-On Experience: Pursue internships or volunteering to see if the work brings you joy or just feels like "reaching milestones"
You might also identify two potential areas of study—a primary and a secondary one—with similar requirements to keep your options open.
I hope that some of these suggestions have been helpful. Good luck with achieving your future goals.
As an advisor I always emphasized that finding the right major is a process of passion-driven exploration rather than a race to pick for the highest salary. When I met with students, I advocated for a "deep connection" to their field of study.
Here are some suggestions to indicate if you're in the right major:
The Library Test: You know it's the right fit if you find yourself in the library or online reading about the subject during your free time just because you want to learn more.
The "No Pay" Rule: Ask yourself if you would still study or work in that field even if you weren't paid for it.
First-In, Last-Out: A perfect fit is a path where you are excited enough to be the first one in the classroom and the last to leave
Self-Reflection: Use personality or Myers-Briggs tests to understand your strengths.
Informational Interviews: Talk to professors and professionals already working in that field to understand daily satisfaction.
Hands-On Experience: Pursue internships or volunteering to see if the work brings you joy or just feels like "reaching milestones"
You might also identify two potential areas of study—a primary and a secondary one—with similar requirements to keep your options open.
I hope that some of these suggestions have been helpful. Good luck with achieving your future goals.
Thanks for all these tips and resources!
Nitai
Wendy Glavin
Marketing, AI, Writing, Networking, Agencies, Entrepreneurship, Public Relations, AI, Jobs, Careers
14
Answers
East Hampton, New York
Updated
Wendy’s Answer
I'd read articles from 2026 about Chemistry. Discover the careers that are trending. Chemistry and AI are a strong path, but it's important to think about what you'll be working on after college. Pharma, Biotech, and materials companies are investing heavily in this. But just majoring in Chemistry isn't enough. You'll need to know programming (Python), how to code, and data analytics, as well as how to build models.
Learn about machine learning, physical, and computational. chemistry and AI. Regardless of which path you choose, it's important to understand AI. There's a free course, "AI for Everyone," by Andrew Ng on Coursera, which you could take; among other courses (unless you're fluent in AI, beyond ChatGPT. You could work in AI-driven discoveries, Biotech, and health tech with startups that are combining science and AI
Regardless of which path you choose, it's important to understand AI. There's a free course, "AI for Everyone," by Andrew Ng on Coursera, which you could take; among other courses (unless you're fluent in AI, beyond ChatGPT. You could join a research group and intern at pharma or biotech companies, or pursue roles in AI.
If you have any more questions, please reach out. Good luck!
Learn about machine learning, physical, and computational. chemistry and AI. Regardless of which path you choose, it's important to understand AI. There's a free course, "AI for Everyone," by Andrew Ng on Coursera, which you could take; among other courses (unless you're fluent in AI, beyond ChatGPT. You could work in AI-driven discoveries, Biotech, and health tech with startups that are combining science and AI
Regardless of which path you choose, it's important to understand AI. There's a free course, "AI for Everyone," by Andrew Ng on Coursera, which you could take; among other courses (unless you're fluent in AI, beyond ChatGPT. You could join a research group and intern at pharma or biotech companies, or pursue roles in AI.
Wendy recommends the following next steps:
Thanks so much, this is very insightful. I’ll never considered how chemistry connects with AI but will definitely check out that course.
Nitai
Jing Wang
Business Support
49
Answers
Dalian, Liaoning, China
Updated
Jing’s Answer
Hi Nitai,
Thank you for raising question here.
Before college, you can try to touch chemistry to see if it's your real interest. You can watch introductory General Chemistry open courses from top universities (MIT, Khan Academy, China University MOOC etc.), other than deep dive, you can only learn the first 3-5 chapters of basic content and experience the teaching logic and knowledge depth of college chemistry. In addition, you can skim the first two chapters of Principles of General Chemistry to understand the basic framework of the discipline and judge whether you can understand and are willing to read on.
In the meanwhile, you can use online resource to have virtual chemistry labs, there are some free virtual experiment platforms like NBOOK and PhET which you can use to simulate titration, substance synthesis and micro-particle movement, which can help you understand micro-chemistry principles intuitively without risks. You can experience some offline chemistry activities as well, you can join chemistry exhibitions in science museums, chemistry experience camps of universities and experimental courses of local institutions to immerse yourself in the experiment model of professional chemistry
The more exposure you have to chemistry, the better you understand it, the more you engage with chemistry, the clearer your grasp of it becomes, then you will learn whether you are interested in chemistry.
Best wishes to you
Thank you for raising question here.
Before college, you can try to touch chemistry to see if it's your real interest. You can watch introductory General Chemistry open courses from top universities (MIT, Khan Academy, China University MOOC etc.), other than deep dive, you can only learn the first 3-5 chapters of basic content and experience the teaching logic and knowledge depth of college chemistry. In addition, you can skim the first two chapters of Principles of General Chemistry to understand the basic framework of the discipline and judge whether you can understand and are willing to read on.
In the meanwhile, you can use online resource to have virtual chemistry labs, there are some free virtual experiment platforms like NBOOK and PhET which you can use to simulate titration, substance synthesis and micro-particle movement, which can help you understand micro-chemistry principles intuitively without risks. You can experience some offline chemistry activities as well, you can join chemistry exhibitions in science museums, chemistry experience camps of universities and experimental courses of local institutions to immerse yourself in the experiment model of professional chemistry
The more exposure you have to chemistry, the better you understand it, the more you engage with chemistry, the clearer your grasp of it becomes, then you will learn whether you are interested in chemistry.
Best wishes to you
Thank you! This is very helpful and thank you for all the resources you mentioned!
Nitai
Abigail Collins
Marketing and Communications
3
Answers
Exeter, New Hampshire
Updated
Abigail’s Answer
Hi Nitai!
This is very normal - going into college, I thought I had my path figured out, but I ended up changing my major as my strengths/interesting were shifting. I actually didn’t fully discover what I was passionate about until I started working and gaining real-world experience outside the classroom.
It's easy to feel pressure to choose the right major from the start, but a lot of your experience depends on the professors, classes, etc. It's not always enough to tell you whether an entire field is right for you.
My advice is to focus less on having your entire career figured out and more on asking yourself what classes make you curious, what kind of potential internship work excites you, and what environments you enjoy being in. Know that you are not locked into one path forever. Some of the most valuable clarity comes from internships, jobs, and experiences outside of school.
This is very normal - going into college, I thought I had my path figured out, but I ended up changing my major as my strengths/interesting were shifting. I actually didn’t fully discover what I was passionate about until I started working and gaining real-world experience outside the classroom.
It's easy to feel pressure to choose the right major from the start, but a lot of your experience depends on the professors, classes, etc. It's not always enough to tell you whether an entire field is right for you.
My advice is to focus less on having your entire career figured out and more on asking yourself what classes make you curious, what kind of potential internship work excites you, and what environments you enjoy being in. Know that you are not locked into one path forever. Some of the most valuable clarity comes from internships, jobs, and experiences outside of school.
Thank you for the advice!
Nitai
Jasmine Jackson
DEI Lead
6
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Jasmine’s Answer
Hi there Nitai,
It is completely normal to feel a bit of "senior jitters" about your major, but as someone who has worked in admissions, I can assure you that changing your mind is a natural and valid part of the college experience. Students pivot all the time, and your first year is specifically designed to let you explore new subjects through general education requirements. There is a great chance you’ll dive into chemistry and absolutely love it, but there is also a chance you’ll discover something else entirely. The most important thing is to be honest with yourself and follow the path that feels most authentic to your values; you should never feel like you have to force a path or conform to a decision you made before you even stepped onto campus.
To get a better sense of where you stand right now, try a simple "pulse check" by immersing yourself in chemistry-related content outside of school, like podcasts, articles, or social media. If this content makes you feel excited and energized, you’re likely on the right track; if it feels like a chore or makes you uneasy, that’s a helpful signal too. Once you arrive at school, make it a point to talk to your academic advisors, professors, and deans. Some of the most significant career breakthroughs come from random, honest conversations with university employees about your interests. Many students find that their "pivots" actually turn into valuable add-ons, leading to double majors or minors. If you stay true to yourself and remain passionate about your path—whatever that ends up being—you will find success.
It is completely normal to feel a bit of "senior jitters" about your major, but as someone who has worked in admissions, I can assure you that changing your mind is a natural and valid part of the college experience. Students pivot all the time, and your first year is specifically designed to let you explore new subjects through general education requirements. There is a great chance you’ll dive into chemistry and absolutely love it, but there is also a chance you’ll discover something else entirely. The most important thing is to be honest with yourself and follow the path that feels most authentic to your values; you should never feel like you have to force a path or conform to a decision you made before you even stepped onto campus.
To get a better sense of where you stand right now, try a simple "pulse check" by immersing yourself in chemistry-related content outside of school, like podcasts, articles, or social media. If this content makes you feel excited and energized, you’re likely on the right track; if it feels like a chore or makes you uneasy, that’s a helpful signal too. Once you arrive at school, make it a point to talk to your academic advisors, professors, and deans. Some of the most significant career breakthroughs come from random, honest conversations with university employees about your interests. Many students find that their "pivots" actually turn into valuable add-ons, leading to double majors or minors. If you stay true to yourself and remain passionate about your path—whatever that ends up being—you will find success.
Thanks for taking the time to write out such a thoughtful answer! I appreciate all the advice!
Nitai
Niya Hitch
IT Analyst
3
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Niya’s Answer
There's been a lot of great advice shared so far! I'd like to add something from my own experience in college a few years back. First, don't feel pressured to choose a major right away. Take your time and explore what interests you. I was lucky to take a career class in my sophomore year, and it completely changed my career path for the better.
What I loved about the class was how it considered all parts of who I am to see which careers might suit me. While it's nice to think you should pick something you'd do for free, that's not everyone's reality. For many, job security and finances play a big role in career decisions, but they shouldn't be the only factors.
This class helped me balance my need for security with my passions and interests, leading me to the career I love today. So, if you can, explore and research as much as possible.
What I loved about the class was how it considered all parts of who I am to see which careers might suit me. While it's nice to think you should pick something you'd do for free, that's not everyone's reality. For many, job security and finances play a big role in career decisions, but they shouldn't be the only factors.
This class helped me balance my need for security with my passions and interests, leading me to the career I love today. So, if you can, explore and research as much as possible.
Sydney Rosenberg
Campus Recruiter
7
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Sydney’s Answer
Choosing a major can feel overwhelming, but it really comes down to what you’re passionate about and what you enjoy doing. A lot of the experience depends on the classes you take and the professors you have, so it’s normal if your opinion of a subject changes over time. If chemistry is something you genuinely find interesting and have fun learning about, that’s a strong sign it could be the right major for you. The best major is the one that keeps you engaged, challenges you in a good way, and gives you a path toward a career you can see yourself enjoying.
Alana Chiusano
Business Analyst
4
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Alana’s Answer
You don't need to pick a major right away. There's still a lot of time to decide. Most students begin with general education courses because these are required for any major. You don't have to start with major-specific classes immediately. In my experience, my college needed elective credits too, so I could try out different major classes I was interested in. These counted towards the degree I eventually chose and graduated with. So try not to stress too much about making a final decision now.
Yohanna Velasquez
Data, AI, and computer engineering
5
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Yohanna’s Answer
Hi Nitai! I understand what you're going through because I was in a similar situation. I switched from electrical engineering to data science and AI. While I liked some parts of engineering, I often felt overwhelmed by the competition and long nights. My counselor suggested some career tests, which were helpful but mostly pointed to engineering. They're worth trying for self-discovery, but there are other ways to find your path too.
I took time to explore different fields and discovered data science and analytics, which I hadn't considered before. I took a class and loved it, thanks to an amazing professor who encouraged me. Many people I knew changed their majors when they realized their initial choice wasn't right for them.
Chemistry is a tough subject, but if you enjoy it, keep going. If, after your first semester, you feel it's not for you or it's affecting your well-being, explore other options. Trying new things is always a good idea, and you might find something you're passionate about, even as a minor. Wishing you the best of luck!
I took time to explore different fields and discovered data science and analytics, which I hadn't considered before. I took a class and loved it, thanks to an amazing professor who encouraged me. Many people I knew changed their majors when they realized their initial choice wasn't right for them.
Chemistry is a tough subject, but if you enjoy it, keep going. If, after your first semester, you feel it's not for you or it's affecting your well-being, explore other options. Trying new things is always a good idea, and you might find something you're passionate about, even as a minor. Wishing you the best of luck!
Thanks so much! This is very helpful!
Nitai
Rebecca Tang
Banking
2605
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. Firstly, you need to find out what career you have interest.
Below are my suggestions:
1. There are many chemistry related careers, eg chemist, lab technician, chemistry teacher, etc Alternatively, you can consider careers like pharmacist, biochemical engineer, etc You may need to take the relevant subjects in colleges
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to the professors and alumni to acquire better understanding on these careers
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Identify the relevant subjects and determine whether you need to switch the major
Hope this helps! Good luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions:
1. There are many chemistry related careers, eg chemist, lab technician, chemistry teacher, etc Alternatively, you can consider careers like pharmacist, biochemical engineer, etc You may need to take the relevant subjects in colleges
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to the professors and alumni to acquire better understanding on these careers
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Identify the relevant subjects and determine whether you need to switch the major
Hope this helps! Good luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Thank you! This is very helpful
Nitai