How to Choose a College Major
It’s one of the questions that we often dread. “So, what are you going to major in college?” The question can be hard to answer if we feel overwhelmed by all the choices or we have no idea what we want to do.
Not everyone who graduates high school wants to go to college. But if that is your goal, at some point you will have to declare a major. You can wait until they are in college and explore different options before making a decision. That’s not a bad route to take. But when you make a choice while in college, you might find there was a better school for that major. It can be helpful to have some idea of what you want to major in while still in high school. It can help with deciding where to apply to college so you find a school that is a good match for your ultimate goal
Whether you are still in high school, or already in college here are some ideas about how to decide what to major in:
1) What are you interested in? It can seem like an obvious question, but the adults in our lives often forget to ask. Do you have any hobbies? Are there certain activities that you really love to do? Is there something that you have always dreamed of doing when you grew up? Is there a certain person that you admire for what they do? Interest is important since it can take some time to get through school. Then you need to gain enough work experience to have the job begin to resemble your ideas of what it can be. Depending on what you choose there can be years of school. That could be followed by entry level jobs, that might not feel as exciting as the potential that the career holds. So having a deep enough interest to work through these years is helpful.
2) What high school and/or college classes did you enjoy the most? Was there a particular topic that sparked your interest? What class assignments were easy to complete, or felt natural to you? Was there a topic that you were eager to learn more about? Exploring careers in these areas can be fruitful.
3) Think about the lifestyle you desire? Considering we spend 1/3 of our lives at work, it's good to consider the day-to-day experience of a career. Do you love nature and being outdoors? You might not want a job where you spend most of your time indoors. Do you love to travel? Seek a career that would allow you to do that on a regular basis. You might have a great desire to be of service, and that becomes the major drive in choosing a career. These are all things to take into consideration.
4) Do some exploring. You might want to do some searching online about the reality of the career you are considering vs the myth. Many people choose a career in forensic science because of all the crime shows they watch on TV. Then they find out that the reality of the career does not match the portrayal on the television. Think about interviewing someone who is doing a career you are considering, Ask them what it is really like. Talking to someone who is in the career area you are interested in can be very informative, and most people are happy to share their experience.
5) Take an assessment. There are many career assessments and personality tests available online. Knowing more about yourself can help you choose a career. As a career coach my favorite is the Kolbe Student Aptitude Quiz if you are between 13-18, and the Kolbe A Index if you are older than 18. This unique assessment lets you know how you like to do things if free to do it your way. It allows you to discover your natural strengths and talents. It measures the conative part of our minds. While the results of personality tests can change over time, our strengths, as indicated in the Kolbe assessments, don’t change. You can take a Kolbe test 10 years apart and get the same score. Knowing your strengths is a huge asset in choosing a career.
6) Hire a career coach. My specialty is helping individuals, from high school age to adults choose a career they will love. I am passionate about my work. There are several points in my own life where I could have benefited from the guidance of a career coach. It could have saved me a lot of time, money and many years in jobs I didn’t like. Having the guidance of a career coach removes a lot of the confusion and stress from the process. You end up with a college major and career that you love!
If you are ready for some assistance in choosing a college major, I would love to help. As a career coach I have tools and insights that can make the process fun and easy. If you are interested in exploring how I can assist, book a free 30-minute consultation call to see if working with me would be a good fit. You can book your appointment here. I look forward with speaking with you.
