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How to narrow down my interest into one major?

I’m in highschool right now. I’m still not sure what I want to do. There’s so much that I am interested in. How do I narrow all of my interests down into one major?

career help career-choice undecided education toomanyinterests
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Aisha’s Answer

Hello,

Step 1: Discover Your Passions and Interests
Unearth what truly ignites your spirit and sparks your curiosity.

Step 2: Reflect on Your Favorite Activities
Ponder on what activities you genuinely enjoy and find fulfillment in.

Step 3: Evaluate Your Educational Journey's Duration
Consider the length of time you're willing to invest in your academic pursuit.

Step 4: Picture Your Perfect Life After Graduation
Imagine the ideal lifestyle you'd like to lead once you've earned your degree.

Step 5: Investigate Potential Career Paths
Spend time researching various professions that align with your interests and skills.

Step 6: Dive Into Internships!
Immerse yourself in real-world experiences by engaging in internships.

Step 7: Allow Yourself the Grace of Time in Making Decisions
Remember, there's no rush in deciding your path. Starting with basic-level courses in college is a great way to test the waters and measure your enthusiasm and dedication towards a specific degree program. It's completely okay to realize early on that a program might not be as appealing as you initially thought.

Moreover, you have the exciting option of choosing an interdisciplinary studies major! This degree program offers you the liberty and adaptability to explore a broad range of classes, helping you uncover your true interests and tailor your academic journey towards the career you aspire to have.
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Alan’s Answer

Maggie, the fact that you have many interests is a perfect place to start. Consider each of them and if they could lead to a reliable career. Then think about your skills, your hobbies, your experiences and your values, and try to whittle the list down more. If there are classes you can take, in high school or even your first year of college, that might help make a possible career in the field clearer, take it. Talk to your school counselor, and, when the time comes, academic advisors from the colleges you're considering. Go to the websites of such colleges and see what programs they offer and how interesting they seem. But you've got plenty of time. It will all start making sense.
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James Constantine’s Answer

Hello Maggie,

Choosing the Perfect Major: A Simplified Guide for High School Students

As a high schooler, it's natural to feel swamped by the multitude of interests and opportunities at your disposal. Picking a major can seem like a mountainous task, particularly when you're uncertain about your future path. But don't worry, there are several effective tactics that can assist you in honing your interests and selecting a major that matches your passions and abilities.

1. Contemplate Your Interests and Abilities

The initial step in honing your interests is to ponder what you love doing and what you excel at. Compile a list of your hobbies, passions, and abilities. Reflect on the subjects you relish in school, the activities you engage in outside of class, and your natural talents. This will aid you in spotting patterns and recurring themes that can steer your decision.

2. Investigate Career Possibilities

After you've compiled a list of your interests and abilities, delve into career possibilities that align with them. Examine job roles, salary brackets, and advancement opportunities. Online tools like the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook or websites such as CareerOneStop can be handy for exploring career possibilities.

3. Evaluate Your Personality and Learning Approach

Your personality and learning approach can significantly influence your choice of a major. Consider your preferred learning method, what drives you, and the type of work environment that suits you best. For instance, if you're an introvert who enjoys working solo, you might want to consider a major that supports independent work, like computer science or writing.

4. Request Guidance from Others

Don't hesitate to seek guidance from others, including teachers, counselors, and professionals in fields that intrigue you. They can offer valuable insights and assist you in exploring your options. Conversations with current college students or recent graduates can provide a clearer picture of what a specific major involves.

5. Undertake a Personality Assessment

Personality assessments, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or the Big Five Personality Traits, can help identify your strengths and preferences. These assessments can provide insight into your personality and assist you in picking a major that aligns with your inherent tendencies.

6. Reflect on Your Long-Term Aspirations

Lastly, contemplate your long-term aspirations. What do you aim to accomplish in your career? Do you wish to work in a specific sector, or pursue a certain career trajectory? Reflecting on your long-term aspirations can assist you in honing your options and selecting a major that will pave the way for success.

In summary, honing your interests into a single major can seem daunting, but it's achievable. By contemplating your interests and abilities, investigating career possibilities, evaluating your personality and learning approach, requesting guidance from others, undertaking a personality assessment, and reflecting on your long-term aspirations, you can make a well-informed decision that aligns with your passions and goals.

Three authoritative reference titles to support this answer are:

1. "The College Major Handbook" by Steven R. Hemelt and William J. Pepin
2. "Choosing a Major: A Guide for Students and Their Families" by the National Association of Colleges and Employers
3. "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Choosing a College Major" by Sarah J. Stevens and Geraldine Woods.

Please be aware that these references are not accessible online and can only be obtained through a physical library or bookstore.

Take care and stay blessed,
James.
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Rian’s Answer

Hi Maggie!

I think that for your college application, it would be smart to apply to one major that you do have interest. When you're in college, it will be possible for you to take classes for other disciplines and find out what you really want to study. But in the meantime, it's smart to have at least one backup major just in case the major you are applying for is super competitive. If you find something that you like more in college, you can always change your major! As for right now, I would just focus on trying to get as many new experiences you can that can help you narrow down what your interests are. If there are two things that you really like, you can also always double major or minor in one of them!
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Karen’s Answer

Maggie, it's great that you have a lot of interests! I recommend listing out all the majors you're interested in and reflect on a few things:

- Which majors are you the most excited to learn more about?
- What are the similarities between them? (Do they all focus on helping people? Are they all in the sciences? etc.)
- What are the major differences between them?
- What will each of them require to make them your eventual career? (Do they require a certain amount of schooling such as masters or doctorate?)
- What types of jobs will each of these majors help you prepare for?
- What is most important to you in a job / career - do you want one that pays a certain amount? Provides flexibility to work anywhere or somewhere specific?

Use these details to narrow down your focus a bit to top 3 majors you're interested in. I recommend your eventual major hit the sweet spot of being aligned to your genuine interests while setting you up to have the type of job or career options you want. Your major could end up being specific (like nursing) or more general (like business.) This process can also help you determine what schools have programs with the majors you're most interested in so you can explore them when the time is right. Good luck!
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Nivea’s Answer

Hey Maggie,

I get it, lots of interests can be overwhelming. Here's a quick plan:

List your passions.
Research majors that match.
Talk to pros in those fields.
Try related classes or clubs.
Stay flexible – you can change later.

You got this!
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Roopa’s Answer

Hi Maggie,

It is great that you are interested in many things. I would suggest that you take courses in different areas and think deeply. Second, I would suggest that you volunteer or take a summer job in a company that supports. Ex. Let us say that you are interested in health care, volunteer in a hospital or interest in technology - try to get a summer job in a tech company etc. Next, you need to think what area is good long term. The field that you choose should provide ample jobs long term and by that I mean 25 or 30 years. This is important because you don't want to retool yourself 5 years from now.
Good that you have started thinking and planning your career now. All the best.
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Rebecca’s Answer

Thank you for your question. Many students have similar question.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about you have interest, e.g. your hobbies, your favourite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a singer, musical artist, music producer, musician, music composer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an accountant, banker, engineer, financial analyst, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue. The relevant subjects will be your major and minor you can target
5. Explore the entry criteria of these subjects in the college
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
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Kathleen’s Answer

Ask yourself, "what am I trying to achieve with my major selection?"

1. If it's "getting into a certain school or program", then research which majors are most likely to get you short-list those.
2. If it's "give me the most flexibility in career options long term", then list out all of your interests in order of preference and cross-reference that with the majors available to you to create a short-list.
3. etc

Once you have your short-list, sit with the list for a few days and write down what your gut is telling you or how you FEEL about each one. You should consider the one that you have the most passion around, because even if the first option in your short-list is best at what you are trying to achieve, but you are MORE passionate about the second option, you'll likely be more successful pursuing the second option because people tend to be more successful about what they are passionate about.
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