Major and Minor Decisions

Most Freshman come to college with the pressures of their parents, and sometimes even
themselves, to choose a major that will help them decide what they want to do for the rest of
their lives. Figuring out what the rest of your life may look like for an 18 or 19 year old can be pretty daunting. Let me tell you something:

It is okay if you do not know what you want to do for the rest of your life!

Most people come to college feeling like they know what major they want to study and what job they would like to do once they graduate, and that’s absolutely great. Although, some people have no clue what they want to do, and that’s okay too. For those of you who are somewhat shaky on the major they’ve chosen or the people who are still undecided, listen up!

For those of you who are currently confused on the path they may be taking in the not-so-
far future, here are a few tips to figure out the major that will make you happy:

1. Take a few classes that are not in the same field. By doing this, you could decide what
areas of study you enjoy learning about and what you are good at. The results may
surprise you. Maybe you’re a science whiz and you find out you’re becoming quite the
history buff. You could be the curator at the Smithsonian!

2. Ask friends and upper classmen about their majors. Asking them about what they like
and dislike could help you decide if the major is right for you. Also, try talking to
professors. They can give you the ins and outs of the major and give you a list of jobs of
where the major could take you.

3. Think about your dream job and research it. Some people believe a certain major will get
them to the job they want, but they should have actually gone another direction. Make
sure you know your stuff.

4. Some students choose a major where money will be abundant. Money is important, but
sometimes passion is key. If you do not enjoy what you do every day, you will never
want to go to work. Pick a major that you enjoy so you can have a job one day that you
enjoy.

5. For students who wish to continue their education well past undergrad, remember that the
decision to apply for medical school should be an early one. If this is something you are
considering, it should explore this option first.

These are only a few tips for deciding the best major for you. If you change your mind a couple
of times, who really cares? The point of college is to study a field that you are happy with and to
set you up for a job you enjoy. Stop freaking out, you will find your life path.