Undeclared? If you’re about to become an incoming freshman, perhaps you have not decided what you want to major in yet. Well...you are not alone. Keep in mind that this is true for several incoming freshmen. You
might encounter many undeclared students in your school. Many freshmen
students simply do not know what they want to major in until around
their sophomore year and beyond. And in some cases…students change their major midway in the first semester and so on... Usually students reverse their decision
because they were never really sure what they wanted to major in- in
the first place, others change because they were told what to major
in-but finally decided that particular field was not best suited for
them, and yet another reason one might change their major is because
they decided it's best to major in a career that is growing and in high
demand. Nevertheless, the main reason one chooses to go to college is to
prepare for a solid career…hoping to land that dream job upon
completion of the educational requirements. Here are tips that will help you make a sensible an informed decision about choosing the right major.Pursue your passion
1. First and foremost, what is your passion? What do you do best? You should make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Take an assessment quiz that reveals your personality traits. This will help you determine the career that you are best suited for. You should also keep in mind that if you choose a college degree program that you are most passionate about, you would probably find it easier to succeed in the required course work.Which classes do you earn your best grades in?
2. Another way to help determine your major is to make a list of your classes that you have completed in high school and the grades that you received for each class. Which subjects did you earn your best grades in? Where these your favorite subjects? Take notice of the connection amid the courses you did well in and the classes you enjoyed most. On the contrary, which classes did you earn your lowest grades in? After scrutinizing your grades and the classes you enjoy most you should be able to select a major based upon these findings. You can also examine your grades for your first semester in college as well. This should also help you decide your major.What is your future plans?
3. Where do you see yourself five years from now? What would you like to be doing? What are your salary expectations upon graduation? Keep in mind that your salary is contingent upon what you decide to major in. For example, if you receive a degree in computer technology, engineering, or the medical field, you can expect to earn a pretty decent salary. You should research your field of interest to find out the average salary statewide and the earning potential for this career. Careers in social work, art, and some teaching fields are usually not high-paying professions. However, if this is your passion…don’t let salary deter you from choosing your desired major. But instead, pursue your passion.Research your field of interest
4. You should thoroughly research your field of interest to learn everything there is to know about it to determine whether or not this is something you really want to pursue. You can also ask someone who currently holds a position in this field or who has previously worked in this capacity. You can also obtain information about a particular profession by contacting your career services department at your school. There- you will find brochures and information packets pertaining to your career choice. You should also consider the growth potential of the degree program that interest you. Is this particular career field on the decline? Will it be difficult to find a job in this field upon graduation? Or is this career field growing and in demand?Volunteer in your field of interest
5. One of the best ways to help determine your major is to volunteer in that field. That’s right! This way you can get a feel of the job itself and observe the daily routines of the profession. Once you volunteer, you just might decide that you don’t want to pursue this particular field after all. Or you may discover your passion.Meet with your academic advisor
6. Your academic advisor can also help you select a major. At some point you should meet with an academic advisor anyway to determine which classes are educational requirements for your selected major and to also avoid choosing classes that don’t meet the requirements for graduation. For those students who are yet in high school- you will need to get with your guidance counselor for help in selecting a major for college. Now if you decide your major while in high school, make sure that the college you select offers this degree program.Follow your own dream
7. You will need to take the right steps toward pursing your passion. Don’t make the mistake of copycatting your colleague(s). In other words, don’t loose sight of your vision by following your friend’s passion. Just because your best friend is majoring in math doesn’t mean that you should do the same. Math may not be your strength. But if you still can’t decide what to major in after following these tips…you might want to consider a degree in Liberal Arts. This way you will get to study a variety of subjects and can still land a promising career. Also, you may decide that you want to go to graduate school at some point after you’ve earned your four-year degree. If you find this to be the case, you should think about what you’d like to receive your Master’s degree in early on and choose the right school that offers this degree.Much Success!
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