Tips for Choosing A Major
Being a college applicant can feel like a non-stop onslaught of tough decisions. Once you work your way through which college you should attend and your dorm situation, you’re still faced with maybe the most important decision of all: which of the many majors out there is right for you.
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing your field of study. Maybe too many things! You can easily experience some analysis paralysis when faced with all the different possibilities for majors and their implications on your future career. Do you follow your heart and your interests, or do you make a more practical choice and follow what you think is the most practical thing in the long term? The most important thing to remember when choosing your major is that it’s not strictly an either/or proposition. So, here are some guidelines on what to consider when choosing your major.
Following Your Interests
With the economy and job market being the way that it is in 2024, picking a major that will affect your future career with your heart can seem like a scary and unwise thing to do. However, you can’t only make decisions based on the most “practical” outcome. You aren’t a computer and shouldn’t expect yourself to act like one! In fact, data shows that a large majority of college students, across all generations, choose their majors based on their passions and preferences first. So, if we look at this rationally, following your heart into a field of your choice is not only a natural thing to do, but you’re no less likely to succeed (whatever that means to you) if you do just that.
Following the Money
There’s no sense in denying it. It’s part of why you’re even going to college in the first place. We can love our jobs more than anything, but none of us would be doing them. So, it’s only sensible to consider the practical applications of your major in the job market. Some of the most lucrative majors of 2023 are: business, accounting/finance and biomedical engineering. If you happen to have your heart set on any of these majors, you’re all set!
This brings us to a combination of these two views on choosing a major. The key thing that connects your interest and which majors leave you best positioned for a career is your ability. If you can find something your skill can flourish within AND leads to a stable career, it’s the perfect solution to your tough decision!
