Choosing A Major
This is Part 1 of the What I Wish I Knew About College series. Scroll to the end of this post for links to the rest of the series.
It’s ok going into college having absolutely no idea what you want to major in. Not everyone has it figured out right off the bat (I certainly didn’t), and there is nothing wrong with that.
In our hyper-competitive world, we tend to feel a sense of despair if we appear to not have life all figured out. And not being able to decide on a major screams “I have no idea what I’m doing” to some people.
But, again, it’s ok to have no idea what you’re doing! That’s what you’re in college for — to figure it out. Heck, you may even be trying to figure the bigger picture out far longer than college! Life is full of uncertainty and that’s something we struggle with but need to accept.
So, how can you go about finding the right major?
If you have a few potential majors in mind, try taking intro classes in them to gauge your interest. But, if you’re picky with doling your credits out (like me), and you don’t want to spend a semester taking a class that may not serve you, there are other ways to figure it out.
- Speak to professors teaching classes in potential majors you’re interested in. Doesn’t matter if you aren’t taking classes with them! Find their email address through your school website or internal directory and ask to meet for a quick chat. Professors want to help students, and you don’t have to take a class with them to seek their help. Ask them about what led them to where they are now professionally, what interests them about the classes they teach, their industry experience, and any advice they have for picking a major. You’re bound to gain some valuable insights.
- Reach out to alumni who undertook potential majors you’re interested in on LinkedIn. LinkedIn’s search filters allow you to do this specifically. Alumni have been where you are, they know what it’s like to be a college student trying to figure it all out. So, they empathize and will be more than happy to chat. Be polite and mindful of their time, of course! If they indulge you, which they probably will, ask them about why they chose their major, how they liked it at your college, and how it translated to building their career.
- Take introductory online courses in potential majors you’re interested in on websites like Udemy, Coursera, and edX. Definitely more time consuming than the first two options, but you can do them at your own pace, and most courses are free, so it’s possible to at least try.
If you don’t have the slightest clue of what major to even consider, think about the type of career or job you’d want and work back from there.
If you don’t have the slightest clue of what type of career you want to build, identify your personality traits and what type of roles they’d gel with. Are you more creative or analytical? Introverted or extroverted? Want to sit behind a computer all day or have plenty of interpersonal interactions? Knowing all this can help you find a career that you’d not only enjoy but can excel in. Consequently, solidifying career preferences translates to potential major choices.
What I Wish I Knew About College
Intro
Part 1: Choosing A Major
Part 2: Doing Well in Classes
Part 3: Gaining Professional Experience
Part 4: YOU Time
If you have any feedback or questions, please leave a comment below, I’d love to engage further.
