by Lindsay Oliver

Created on: July 28, 2009

When choosing a college major, there are a few considerations to help you with your choice. For some, their strengths, passions, and goals have always been aligned, which makes for an easy decision for a major. For others, there is much to take into account. Breaking the decision down into parts may make the process less overwhelming.

Firstly, consider what you are good at and what keeps you an active learner. You do not want to study something that does not constantly intrigue you or something that you are always struggling to meet requirements. Try not to pick something just because it may "guarantee" a job after graduation. Nothing is a guarantee and you will be miserable during your classes. Play to your strengths.

Although you should not pick a major just because you think it will get you a job straight out of college, you do want to consider your future when picking a major. Having a general career path will help guide you. It may be easier to rule out certain career paths, helping you know which majors not to choose. This is the second thing you should consider.

Third, keep in mind that your school has a core curriculum for a reason. Not only does a core curriculum help to ensure a balanced education but also to help students chose a major. You may find an undiscovered passion or strength. Through the general curriculum, you may also realize that the classes you enjoyed in high school are not as enjoyable on a more advanced level; this may change your original path.

Be sure to use the resources available to you. Talk to your academic adviser about which departments at your school excel in their respective fields. Also, if you cannot find the perfect major for you, find out about creating your own major. A lot of schools allow you to take classes from different majors and blend them into your own. Talk to department heads and deans about requirements for majors, and the possibility of minors. Talk to career counselors and find out what job opportunities are available to certain majors. If you know what career you want to pursue before you pick your major, a career counselor will be an extremely valuable resources, as they can help to fine-tune your schedule. Your academic adviser will also be helpful with this, especially if your career path includes graduate school.

Lastly, keep an eye on deadlines. Most schools allow you two years to decide a major, but some majors may not be able to be completed in two years. You definitely do not want undue stress around graduation time.

If you are one of the more fortunate students who have known what they love, what they excel at, and what they want to pursue as a career, look at schools that excel in whatever that is. It will certainly enrich your education and be helpful in finding a job in your field.

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