Not knowing what to major in as a junior in college is a terrifying thing. I’ve been through Art Education, Creative Writing, Kinesiology, and Advertising in my two short years of college. Going home for the holidays and being asked what I’m majoring in over and over again causes a lot of stress for me because I’m still not 100 percent sure. Although I’m no expert, I’ve made a list of ways that will hopefully make it a little easier to decide on a major when the time comes.
Choose something you love to do.
Although this sounds obvious, many people choose their major based on what kind of money it’ll bring in. If you love to write, great! Become a writer. If it’s something you love, you’ll find a way to make your salary work.
Recommended for you
Don't base it off of money.
Going off of my last point, if you absolutely hate anything having to do with engineering, steer clear of engineering majors. Just because it brings in a good chunk of change does not mean you should major in it. I would hate having to wake up every morning to go to a job I dislike.
Dabble.
During your first year of college, dabble in a few different areas of interest. This way, you get a better understanding of what you do and don’t like. It’ll help you narrow down your choices later on.
Talk to people in the profession you're considering.
Don’t be afraid to job shadow someone for a day. Maybe the idea of becoming an orthodontist is great, but once you get to see all the work that goes on behind the scenes you’ll change your mind.
Consider requirements for majors of interest.
If you need to get out of school in four years, make sure that whatever major you choose allows you to do so. If time isn’t an issue, then consider the money aspect of staying in school longer.
Don't settle.
If you choose a major but still aren’t sure if it’s the right one for you, don’t lock anything in. Talk to someone before you make a final decision. Going back to point two, you don’t want to find yourself working at a job you don’t like 10 years from now.
Make appointments with advisors!
I cannot stress this enough. Take advantage of everything your college has to offer and talk to advisors. I once had five meetings in one day with five different departments because I had no clue what I wanted to do. Advisors are there to help you. Trust me, they can explain things a lot more clearly than if you are researching everything by yourself online.
Good luck and happy major hunting!
