John
Is college right for me, and if so, what should I major in when I'm interested in so many career fields?
I've changed my major so many times I feel that I should just major in everything. Financially speaking, not a great choice. #college-major #college #college-advice #academic-advising
#MAJORINEVERYTHING
4 answers
Matt Jackson
Matt’s Answer
Choosing your major can feel like a huge commitment. To help you think through this decision, I can share a few bits of information based on my experiences.
Many people thrive in careers that have little to do with their college major. I know this because I'm one of them! During my undergraduate (and graduate studies) I was focused on Political Science. Today, I am a marketing technologist at one of the largest software companies in the world.
How did I get there?
To put it simply, once I entered the workforce I discovered that the skills that made me a valuable employee weren't the facts that I had studied closely in school-- it was my ability to think on my feet and to problem solve.
In other words, your major will help you get started in a particular field--but once you get started, your experience will open up many possibilities in other industries and fields if you have the ability to keep learning and problem-solving. Learning doesn't stop once you leave school!
To develop your critical thinking and problem solving skills, you can choose virtually any major--it will just be case that you'll be applying those skills to a particular area of study. This will help you get started in that field but it will be up to you to determine what happens next.
So, I would start to think broadly about what kind of job that you can imagine enjoying for 40 hours per week once you leave school.
Find a major that broadly fits with your vision and start there. Ask yourself what sorts of jobs might be possible with that major, if those types of jobs are increasing or decreasing in number, and the opportunities for those types of jobs exist only in certain parts of the country (and if you want to live there).
Lastly, remember that you can always change your mind. You sound like a curious person--this will be your most valuable attribute in the workplace, above and beyond the specific details that you study as part of your major.
Ashley Santos
Ashley’s Answer
Hi John! I was the same way when I was in college although for me I did not declare a major until I absolutely had to do so because I felt the same way. There are so many great ways to spend your professional life; how do you choose just one? To Matt's point, don't feel like because you chose a particular major that you are 'stuck' doing that for the rest of your life. I majored in Marketing and International Business in college. Now, I am in a tech job that has nothing to do with my majors. It did however help me get my foot in the door with a Sales job which the Marketing and IB majors definitely helped prepare me.
You will likely be surprised at other ways that college prepares you for jobs that seemingly have nothing to do with your major. For instance, time management, public speaking, event planning, leadership skills: These are all skills I learned in college and have been refining ever since. I joined a couple of clubs that gave me the event planning and leadership skills that have come in handy for many roles/special projects that I have had.
There are a few ways that you can explore some of the majors that you find interesting without changing your major. Find someone in the career; shadow them and/or ask them questions. Join a club with that focus area.
One career that I interested me was physical therapy. After shadowing one and asking questions I realized that it was not for me. This only took a couple of hours rather than investing a lot of time and money in school to figure that out by changing my major.
Hopefully some of these tips help. Good luck! Just know that whatever you choose, you have options to grow your skills and experience even after you graduate; the choice of your major does not have to be your permanent focus area for life.
Anna Traykova
Anna’s Answer
Have you spoken to academic and/or career advisors at your university? They can be a great resource and point you to tools to help make a more informed decision, such as YouScience.com - an aptitude and interest inventory that I use in my work as academic advisors to help students choose a major that is a good fit for their aptitudes, personality, etc.
If you have reached out to academic/career advising and you haven't found the interaction helpful, consider also talking to a counselor at the counseling center at your school. Our counseling center runs a Major Decision workshop and offers individual attention to students with your question as well. I would imagine at the college you are attending they might be doing the same.
Anna recommends the following next steps:
Richard A.
Richard’s Answer
However in certain circumstances it is better to attend a trade school. If you know what you want to do and it doesn't require a college degree, then it doesn't make sense to go in to debt and pay for an expensive
Maybe taking time from your education to work will help you focus. Or at least, try to get an internship in one field you are considering.