Major Mistake: 5 Steps to Choosing the Right Major for You

Declaring a major can feel like declaring a life sentence. At least that has been the common misconception for most undergrads. Traditionally students will declare a major in an area of study their freshman year and then go onto graduate school or find a job in that particular field. The job market today isn’t exactly what it was 10 years ago or even 5 years ago so this theory doesn’t exactly apply. Today post grads are take the first job offer that comes their way, whether that be waiting tables, interning or working at an entry level position (in some cases all three).  Instead of panicking about being jobless, use this time as an excuse to study whatever you want. College is about growing up and honing your skills. Here are five steps to picking major in whatever your heart desires. 
1.     Don’t declare a major first semester of freshman year.  Most undergrads change their minds about their major at least two times before graduating. Use your first semester to meet new people and figure out how to survive college classes. The transition from high school to college is stressful enough, worrying about your four year plan shouldn’t be a priority.
2.    Take a variety of classes. Gen eds and pre reqs may seem like a pain, but they’re the perfect opportunity to take advantage of your academic freedom and step outside of your comfort zone. Sign up for classes that seem interesting or challenging, you might find something you like! Just because you’ve declared a major in psychology doesn’t mean you can’t take a class on Athenian Drama.
3.    Meet with advisors and students from different areas of interest. Advisors are by far the most knowledgeable people about majors on a college campus. Set up appointments with advisors from different departments sooner than later. They have all of the information on the specifics of each major. This includes prerequsites, course lists and anything else you wanted to know about your potential major. Talking to students who have already declared a major is helpful because they can give you an honest opinion. Don’t be afraid to ask to tag along with them and sit in on class.
4.     Follow your intuition. No, not your passion, your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, pay attention. Just because you’ve always wanted to be President of the United States doesn’t mean you have to major in political science. You’ll never really know if something is right for you until you try it. So try political science and if you hate it, try something else. You’re more likely to know what you don’t want than what you do want. Process of elimination may not be easy but it is efficient.
5.     Don’t be afraid to change your mind. It’s okay if you change your mind, nothing in college is binding. Starting over isn’t a big deal even if it’s your junior or senior year, you’re still young! Sure you might need to take some summer courses or even an extra semester but you’ll be happy you aren’t continuing on a path that would leave you unfulfilled. Besides, it’s better to realize that you don’t want to be a doctor during your physiology final than your white coat ceremony.
 
The truth is, it doesn’t really matter what you major in as long as it’s something you enjoy. Your major doesn’t determine your future, it’s only four years of your life.