Let’s be real, sifting through college majors can be daunting. Being tasked with choosing a major can feel like you’re being asked to predict your entire future while blindfolded. It doesn’t matter what phase of life you’re in, whether you’re a high school senior filling out college applications, a career changer, or someone who’s realized their current major isn’t the right fit, the pressure to “choose correctly” can be absolutely overwhelming.
Here’s a little secret though, there’s no single “right” answer, and you’re not locked into your choice forever. MIND BLOWING RIGHT? Within this post, we’ll break down how to actually approach this decision in a way that makes sense for your life, your goals, and yes, your wallet. Let’s do this.
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College Majors: Where to Start
You’ve probably heard “follow your passion” about a thousand times at this point. Though it isn’t bad advice, is is incomplete. Passion is a great starting point, but you also need to think about what you’re good at, what the job market looks like, and what kind of lifestyle you want.
You can start by asking yourself these questions:
- What do you find yourself reading or watching in your free time?
- What problems do you want to solve in the world?
- When you imagine yourself working, what does that actually look like? Are you in an office? Working with your hands? Traveling? Working from home?
If you’re a career changer, you have an advantage here. You already know what you don’t want from work. Use that knowledge. What was missing from your current career? What do you want more of?
Money Talks: What to Consider Regarding College Majors
Money talks and there are a ton of conversations around this topic that no one wants to have…but we’re going to have them. Let’s start with yourt return on investment. Some majors can lead to higher paying careers than others. That’s just reality. Another reality to consider, the “highest paying major” doesn’t matter if you’re miserable, burn out, or can’t actually land a job in that field.
Here are some things to consider when researching:
- Look at median salaries for careers related to your major (websites like Bureau of Labor Statistics, PayScale, and Glassdoor are your friends)
- Check job growth projections for the next 5-10 years
- Consider the cost of your degree program against potential earnings
- Factor in whether you’ll need graduate school (and more loans) to work in your field
- Do not forget about FAFSA & Tuition Reimbursement
For nontraditional students and career changers especially, time is money. If you’re taking out loans or leaving a job to go back to school, you need to know what kind of financial future you’re working toward. That doesn’t mean you should only chase the biggest paycheck, but it does mean being realistic about student debt and lifestyle expectations.
Choosing a Major: Common Mistakes
Mistake #1: Choosing a major because someone else thinks you should
Your parents want you to be a doctor. Your guidance counselor thinks you’d make a great teacher. Your partner thinks business is the “practical choice.” Though all of these are wonderful things should be taken into consideration, the decision ultimately comes down to you and what you want to pursue. You’re the one who will be doing the work, taking the classes, and eventually working in the field.
Mistake #2: Picking the “easy” major
There’s no such thing as an easy major so go ahead and push that out if it’s already started to make itself cozy in your mind. Every field has its challenges, especially if you’re actually trying to learn and succeed. Choose something that challenges you in ways that are meaningful.
Mistake #3: Assuming college majors determines your entire career
Here’s a secret: tons of people work in fields unrelated to their major. Your major teaches you how to think, research, communicate, and solve problems. Those skills transfer. English majors become marketers. Psychology majors become UX designers. Biology majors become patent lawyers. Don’t feel like you’re carving your career path in stone.
Mistake #4: Not talking to people who actually work in the field
Google can only tell you so much. Reach out to those who are actually doing the work you think you want to do. Ask them what their day to day looks like, what may have surprised them about their career, and what they wish they’d known when they chose their major. LinkedIn is a great place to start in making these, what can be long lasting, connections.
Mistake #5: Ignoring your learning style
Ask yourself, are you someone who learns by doing, or do you prefer theory and research? Do you thrive in group projects or prefer independent work? Some majors are heavily lecture based, while others are lab intensive or project focused. Consider these aspects as they could help narrow down your college major options.
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Choosing a Major: Practical Steps
Take a variety of classes
If time permits, take some general education requirements in different subject areas. See what clicks. Sometimes you discover a passion for economics when you thought you’d major in art history. That’s the point of exploration.
Talk to academic advisors (more than once)
Seriously. Academic advisors aren’t just there to approve your schedule. They can help map out career paths you may not have considered yet, internship opportunities, and what former students in certain majors are doing now. If you’re a nontraditional student, specifically ask about flexible programs and credit transfer options.
Refer to course catalogs
Don’t just read the major description, actually look at the actual classes you’ll need to take, to achieve that major. For example, if you’d like to major in psychology but discover you need multiple statistics courses and you hate math, that’s something important to consider.
Internships and real world experience
Some majors have built in internship requirements. Others don’t. Either way, you want to gain practical experience before you graduate. Look at what opportunities are available through your school’s career center by speaking with advisors.
Career Changers: Experience Matters
If you’re going back to school after working, you’re not starting from zero. Your work experience is valuable, and you have the power to choose a major that leverages what you already know while filling in gaps.
When plotting your course, think about:
- What skills from your previous career can transfer to your new field?
- Can you find a program that offers credit for professional experience?
- Are there accelerated programs designed for adult learners?
- Will you need to work while you study? Are online or hybrid program options available?
Your maturity, work ethic, and real world perspective are advantages. Use them.
Still Stuck?
Somtimes the best way to figure out what you want is to start walking in a direction. To put it simply, just pick something! Consider starting with a major that keeps your options open, like business, communications, or a general studies program, while you figure things out. Or pick the thing your mind keeps wondering back to, what you’re most curious about, and see where it leads. You can always pivot and switch majors as you get your feet underneath you.
The worst thing you can do is nothing. Analysis paralysis keeps you stuck while life moves forward.
One Last Thing
Choosing a major is important, but it’s not a life sentence. It’s one decision in a long series of decisions you’ll make about your education and career. The job market will change. Your interests will evolve. New opportunities will emerge that may not even exist yet.
What matters most is that you choose something that engages you, has realistic career prospects, and aligns with the kind of life you want to build. Do your research, trust your gut, and remember that there’s no such thing as a perfect choice, just the choice that’s right for you, right now.
You’ve got this. Now stop overthinking and start doing.
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