Three things to consider before choosing/declaring your major in college
Congratulations, after years of hard work and dedication, you finally made it past grade school! Next step — college. Four more years of school, but now everything is just a tad bit different. You might be moving to a brand new state, a new city, or even a new country (maybe even all three!). It is likely you may not see your parents and your friends as often as you used to, especially if you are all going to different schools.
Starting college brings a lot more logistical challenges than you may have initially expected, including what course of study you are going to pursue once you start school. Many schools refer to this as a major, but you may see other offerings such as “concentrations”, “double majors”, or “minors” that can be coupled with your program of study. Some schools even give students the chance to design their own majors. There are plenty more academic departments than you probably had in high school, with new subjects you now have a chance at exploring for the first time. This is one unique aspect of college that allows students to truly expand their breadth of knowledge as they start forming what will become their eventual career paths.
Certainly, there are several factors that you should take into consideration before declaring a major/minor plan. For starters, think hard about what it is you are passionate about. Is it the rapidly-evolving STEM field subjects? Or maybe you are the creative type and want to pursue a major in the arts, such as theater or film. Maybe you even want to do both! It is definitely a possibility as long as you plan your courses accordingly. Regardless of what you choose, take into account your ability to actively engage with the material. If you find yourself bored in class or generally uninterested, try something else. College students sometimes select their majors to please their parents or to meet graduation requirements sooner. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t be afraid to try something new.
Another consideration to keep in mind is whether your major of choice will give you the skill set needed for the career you will follow. When you begin applying for internships during your college career, you will find that having particular abilities can make your candidacy stand out more during interviews. For example, a major in computer science provides students with advanced knowledge of coding languages and methods whereas a philosophy major will most likely have a different focus. However, this should not discourage you from declaring a major that suits your interests. If you decide to apply for an internship that is not as strict on a major/minor choice, look for ways to learn the skills they ask for. A liberal arts major can still take classes on the side as electives or on their own outside of school and still meet the requirements for internships or graduate schools. In the end, don’t let the major’s name limit your career selection opportunities.
Finally, look for updated trends and match them with your interests and preferences for declaring a major. There are sites and organizations that observe these trends over time and even outline certain metrics about trending majors. Currently, BestColleges.com offers an exhaustive list of major trends among today’s college undergraduates and recent graduates. Some graphs go into more detail about which majors lead to high or low salaries upon graduation. Taking a closer look at these statistics could help influence your final decision in declaring a major. However, keep your well-being in mind. Perhaps the potential of starting off with a high salary or stressful entry-level position might not be worth the seemingly endless sleepless nights you would endure for four years.
Ultimately, the major you end up declaring is a choice that sticks for life. It is a big decision, but it sure helps to have a greater awareness before finally declaring. Even if you find yourself starting your first semester in college without a major in place, there is no reason to panic. Being undeclared is okay and it gives you a chance to learn more about your college’s academic offerings. Down the line, if you have some uncertainty about your decision, feel free to switch it up. In fact, many universities do not require students to declare until their sophomore or junior year. At the end of the day, don’t fear the unknown. Embrace it and see where it takes you!
Giovanni is a content creator at Mascot. He is a senior student studying Psychology, French and Global Health at Dartmouth College.
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