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How should I decide what major I should take in college if I still haven´t decided on my career path?
I´m interested to know how choosing a major will impact my future, considering I haven´t decided what I´d like to do in my future. I´d appreciate being given context and clarity.
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5 answers
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Quinn’s Answer
Hi Michelle,
From my experience, in most fields your undergraduate degree doesn't matter - only that you have one. If you have a strong desire towards accounting, engineering, medicine.. then select an undergraduate degree that will prepare you for those fields/grad school but otherwise look for a degree that really aligns with your interests. Degrees in business are generally pretty flexible and often have some of the better internship opportunities, resulting in better early career opportunities but this ultimately depends on your university. College is about so much more than learning about a specific field of study.
From my experience, in most fields your undergraduate degree doesn't matter - only that you have one. If you have a strong desire towards accounting, engineering, medicine.. then select an undergraduate degree that will prepare you for those fields/grad school but otherwise look for a degree that really aligns with your interests. Degrees in business are generally pretty flexible and often have some of the better internship opportunities, resulting in better early career opportunities but this ultimately depends on your university. College is about so much more than learning about a specific field of study.
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
Hi Michelle,
Rest assured thousands of people have been in your shoes at some point. It's not uncommon for career paths to veer throughout your professional life so know that what you study in college is not necessarily something you're signing up for for life. For those that are undecided, a college major can serve as a guide or a door to other paths that may not easily be observable.
It's ok to start with your interest to guide what you study in college. If there's a subject or job that seems interesting to you or you could picture yourself doing, that's a start. Others use travel to determine their choice of study. Maybe there's a city or country that you might want to travel to or study in. You can research their local colleges/universities and see if any of their offerings interest you. Some people use salary to base their choices on, but in the end, you don't want to study or pursue any path that is not interesting to you or that you haven't done any research in. There is a wealth of information about majors and career paths out there. Here's a good article from Princeton Review that I found: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/choosing-college-majors
Hope that helps!
Rest assured thousands of people have been in your shoes at some point. It's not uncommon for career paths to veer throughout your professional life so know that what you study in college is not necessarily something you're signing up for for life. For those that are undecided, a college major can serve as a guide or a door to other paths that may not easily be observable.
It's ok to start with your interest to guide what you study in college. If there's a subject or job that seems interesting to you or you could picture yourself doing, that's a start. Others use travel to determine their choice of study. Maybe there's a city or country that you might want to travel to or study in. You can research their local colleges/universities and see if any of their offerings interest you. Some people use salary to base their choices on, but in the end, you don't want to study or pursue any path that is not interesting to you or that you haven't done any research in. There is a wealth of information about majors and career paths out there. Here's a good article from Princeton Review that I found: https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/choosing-college-majors
Hope that helps!
I will use this advice as I prepare for my career.
Michelle
Updated
Dave’s Answer
Hi Michelle,
It's ok not to be sure what you want to do with your entire life! I'm a believer in doing in school what interests you - from drama to chemistry, whatever it is. And if you don't have a particular interest - try things - see what you like.
One of the attorneys I work with wanted to be an author, she wrote romance novels to help pay for law school (and didn't know she was going to want to be a lawyer til she was nearly done with undergrad). Others I know were certain from high school they wanted law degrees, did pre-law classes, went through the time and expense of law school, practiced for a while, and decided that they didn't like it and moved to something completely unrelated - one became a physical therapist.
What I'm trying to say is that school and career don't need to synch up until and unless you choose to do something that requires grad school, and so just get good grades and do what keeps you involved and enjoying learning. Learning how to learn is the most important thing - you can take that anywhere.
I know that's a bit general, but hope it helps with a different perspective.
It's ok not to be sure what you want to do with your entire life! I'm a believer in doing in school what interests you - from drama to chemistry, whatever it is. And if you don't have a particular interest - try things - see what you like.
One of the attorneys I work with wanted to be an author, she wrote romance novels to help pay for law school (and didn't know she was going to want to be a lawyer til she was nearly done with undergrad). Others I know were certain from high school they wanted law degrees, did pre-law classes, went through the time and expense of law school, practiced for a while, and decided that they didn't like it and moved to something completely unrelated - one became a physical therapist.
What I'm trying to say is that school and career don't need to synch up until and unless you choose to do something that requires grad school, and so just get good grades and do what keeps you involved and enjoying learning. Learning how to learn is the most important thing - you can take that anywhere.
I know that's a bit general, but hope it helps with a different perspective.
Thank you for the advice.
Michelle
Updated
Atul’s Answer
What do you enjoy in the high school? What are your favorite subjects?
If it is Math - you can pursue Engineering field, this country needs many software engineers and there not enough in spite of high tech companies laying off many but very few in the software engineering.
If you like Chemistry - consider anything to do with the medicine.
If you like English - pursue journalism or technical writer field.
If you are good at people’s skills - consider marketing/sales field but acquire knowledge where you want to work. I was a soft developer and then sold software latter in my life to be successful.
If you like history, you can pursue law degree.
Please note that first two years of any state university have a common curriculum which will give you plenty of time should decide to change your major.
I have two sons who are very successful in the corp world and they chose the field (finance and software) which remains in demand and never had to worry about not able to find jobs. Both of them selected their profession based on their personal choice and not from their parents or teachers.
If it is Math - you can pursue Engineering field, this country needs many software engineers and there not enough in spite of high tech companies laying off many but very few in the software engineering.
If you like Chemistry - consider anything to do with the medicine.
If you like English - pursue journalism or technical writer field.
If you are good at people’s skills - consider marketing/sales field but acquire knowledge where you want to work. I was a soft developer and then sold software latter in my life to be successful.
If you like history, you can pursue law degree.
Please note that first two years of any state university have a common curriculum which will give you plenty of time should decide to change your major.
I have two sons who are very successful in the corp world and they chose the field (finance and software) which remains in demand and never had to worry about not able to find jobs. Both of them selected their profession based on their personal choice and not from their parents or teachers.
Thank you, Atul!
Michelle
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
Remember the decision will always be yours. You can speak with an Advisor and even friends and family BUT the final will be from you. Decisions should be based on interest. To have a level of comfort and confidence the perspective should come from within your heart.