by Marijane Suttor

Created on: July 30, 2009   Last Updated: June 20, 2010

A teenager sits in the counselor's office at the high school squirming in the chair. She has point blank asked the high school senior what he plans to have as his major in college. He shakes his head and says reluctantly that he still doesn't know what he wants to do. All too often people make decisions that affect their career choices for the rest of their lives as teenagers. It is perfectly acceptable to go to college and test the waters of different areas or make changes to the major. Unfortunately, college is expensive and after a certain point changing majors will really be expensive and add on to the years that one needs to be in college.

These are a few tips that may help in choosing a college major.

Don't choose a major based on what your family wants

Although parents and other family member certainly should be listened to when they wish to weigh in on a student's college major choice, it doesn't mean that one has to do what they want. Becoming a lawyer just because one's dad was a lawyer and wants the family tradition to carry on is a bad idea. On the same note a parent who discourages a dream shouldn't necessarily be obeyed. It is acceptable to listen and include their thoughts in the process, but it should not be the decisive factor.

Beware of majoring in a hobby or interest

Although there are many people that have excellent careers in their areas of hobbies or interests, it can lead to a choice of majors that isn't the best in the long run. For example going into education because one likes playing football and would like to be a coach, is a bad idea. One should go into education for the desire to teach a subject, because coaching is a small part of the career. On same note a love of theater in high school may lead one to be a theater major, but finding an acting job may not be so easy. Be aware that careers in the areas of favorite hobbies can take something that one loves and twist it into something that is a burden to make money with.

Don't let money take the lead

Many people making career choices try to find the ones that they feel will make them the most money. They think that a career in medicine or law will be a lucrative one, but these may not be the best major choice for their personality. A student can sometimes be a long ways into a major and then have a change of heart. Make sure that money isn't the deciding factor.

Look at the job market

Most school counselors have an abundance of materials on career trends. Consider majoring in an

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