How to Choose a College Major
Smart Ways for Students to Decide on a Plan of Study
Apr 29, 2007 Naomi Rockler-Gladen
Students have lots of questions about surviving freshman year, and one of their concerns is with choosing a major. Your college or university's course catalog is probably dozens of times thicker than your list of high school class options, so where do you even begin?
Don't panic. You don't have to choose a major your first semester. Yes, it's better to decide sooner than later, because if you switch majors late during your college years, it may take you longer to graduate. Nonetheless, you do have some time to do your research and make an informed decision. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you choose a major:
- What are your interests? It's going to be a long four years if you choose a major you don't enjoy, and you're not going to do as well in classes that don't interest you.
- What are your talents. Are you a strong writer? A natural born scientist? A computer whiz? Figure out what kinds of majors are suited for people with your talents. By the same token, figure out what you're not good at, and avoid majors where those kinds of skills are needed.
- What kind of career are you interested in? Take advantage of the campus career center! They can give you information about career planning and help you choose a major that is appropriate.
- What kinds of majors are strong on your campus? If you're trying to decide between history and English, and your campus happens to have a world-famous history department, that should weigh into your decision.
- What kinds of majors are available? There are majors around that you've probably never heard of or know little about. Familiarize yourself with all the possibilities.
As you search for a college major, take advantage of the resources available to you to help you make an informed decision, such as:
- The course catalog. This will list information about each major, tell you what courses are required, and what courses are offered.
- Academic advisors. If you've been assigned an advisor, talk to him or her about your interests and ask for some suggestions.
- Professors. If a major sounds interesting to you, make an appointment with a professor in that department. Ask questions.
- Other students. One of your best sources of information on campus comes from your fellow students. Find juniors and seniors and ask them what they like and dislike about their majors. Remember, ask a variety of students these questions. Every student's experience is different, so don't rely on any one student to give you the scoop on a major.
- Alumni. Do you know anyone who's graduated fairly recently? Get their opinions, and find out what they are doing now.
- The web. Browse through the websites of different departments on campus. Department websites probably will link to any websites maintained by professors, who sometimes put information about their classes online. In addition, use the web to find out general information about what different majors are like and what kinds of careers majors go into.
- College majors guides. Information about majors also are available in guidebooks. You can get ahold of these guidebooks at the school library or academic advising office, or consider buying a cheap copy online.
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