how to choose a major

We know that choosing a college major can be overwhelming.

Just have no fear! Your option of major volition not lock you into a specific career for the residuum of your life. That said, you Volition spend a lot of fourth dimension whatever discipline you choose. Here'southward what you need to know about college majors before you commit.

What is a major?

Your major in higher is your specialized area of study. Beyond general college requirements, you lot'll also take a group of courses in a subject of your choosing such every bit Chemical science, Comparative Literature, or Political Science. At some schools yous can fifty-fifty blueprint your ain major.

How important is your higher major?

The major you cull will neither predict nor guarantee your future. Many graduates notice jobs that accept nothing to do with what they studied in higher. According to the U.S. Section of Labor, the average xx-something switches jobs one time every three years and the average person changes career fields 2 or three times in their lifetime.

If yous intend to earn a professional degree (similar an MD) subsequently higher, you volition probably need certain courses, or prerequisites , under your belt. But many future doctors major in non-science related fields.

When do I declare a major?

Typically in your sophomore or junior year, but the answer varies beyond schools and programs. Some colleges ask you lot to list your expected major on your higher application (although "undecided" is normally an option), but don't require you to declare definitively until subsequently.

If you are interested in a major that requires a lot of classes, or classes that are limited to students in that major, then information technology is meliorate to declare early. Some majors need a strictly regimented order of courses, and if y'all fall behind, you may take to extend your college stay by a semester or 2.

How to Choose a College Major

Consider these factors when picking your major.

  • 1. Career Prep

    Choose a major because information technology will prepare you for a specific career path or advanced report. Perchance you already know that you want to be a nurse, a day trader, a concrete therapist, or a web developer. Before yous declare, take a class or two in the relevant discipline, bank check out the syllabus for an avant-garde seminar, and talk to students in the section of your choice. Brand certain you're set up for the coursework required for the career of your dreams.

  • 2. Earning Potential

    Future earning potential is worth considering—higher is a large investment, and while higher can pay you lot dorsum in many ways beyond salary, this tin can be a major factor for students who are paying their own fashion or taking out loans. According to PayScale.com , the majors that lead to the highest salaries include just about whatever type of engineering, actuarial mathematics, information science, physics, statistics, authorities, and economics. Keep your quality of life in heed, likewise—that vi figure salary may not exist worth it if y'all're not happy at the role.

  • iii. Subjects You lot Love

    Some students choose a major simply because they dearest the bailiwick matter. If yous love what y'all're studying, you're more likely to fully engage with your classes and higher experience, and that can mean improve grades and great relationships with others in your field. If your calling is philosophy, don't write it off just because you're not sure about graduate schoolhouse, or what the job market holds for philosophers. Many liberal arts majors provide students with critical thinking skills and writing abilities that are highly valued by employers.

  • 4. Undecided? Explore your interests.

    If yous truly have no idea what you want to report, that'south okay—many schools don't require students to declare a major until sophomore year. That gives you iv semesters to play the field. Brand the most of any required general teaching courses—choose ones that involvement you. Talk to professors, advisors, section heads, and other students. Find an internship off campus. Exploring your interests will help y'all find your best fit major—and maybe fifty-fifty your ideal career.

Can I change my mind?

Definitely. One of the most exciting aspects of college life is that it introduces you to new subjects and fosters new passions. Yous might enter undergrad enjoying physics but detect a burgeoning dear for political science. However, keep this mind: Every major has requisite coursework. Some require you to take introductory courses before you move into the more advanced classes. Besides, some classes are offered in the fall but not in the spring, or vice-versa. If yous modify your major late in the game, it may accept more than the traditional 4 years to earn a degree.

Minors and Double Majors

If one subject field doesn't satisfy your intellectual appetite, consider a pocket-size. A minor is similar to a major in that it's an area of academic concentration. The only difference is that a minor does not require equally many classes.

Some undergrads with a honey of learning and an appetite for penalty choose to pursue two majors, often in totally unlike subjects. A double major provides y'all with an understanding of ii bookish fields. It allows y'all to become familiar with two sets of values, views and vocabularies. That said, it also requires yous to fulfill two sets of requirements and take twice every bit many required classes. You won't have as many opportunities to experiment or take classes outside those two fields.

While a pocket-sized or a double major might brand you more marketable, both professionally and for graduate study, both are time—and energy—intensive. Most students find that i major is more plenty.

Demand aid? Browse majors and acquire more near them with our college majors search tool .  Plus: Here's our list of  Meridian 10 College Majors based on research covering job prospects, alumni salaries, and popularity.

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