With the cost of tuition on a steady increase, and the time and energy it takes to complete the requirements for a degree, spending time upfront to choose the best major for you really pays off.

It is extremely frustrating to finally get the major you worked so hard and sacrificed so much for, finally get a job that lets you use your major, only to find out it's not really what you want to be doing. At that point you have a choice; go back to school and get a degree in something you would enjoy more, or continue to trudge along the path of least resistance, never realizing the joy that can come from working at something you really love.

So, how do you decide what's right for you?

First, consider what you like to do. If time and money weren't an issue, how would you spend you days? What are your interests, what are your hobbies? Write them down. Can you think of some areas that would allow you to use your interests?

One helpful tool in seeing all that's available are catalogs from the colleges you are considering attending (if you don't have any colleges in mind, just pick one in your area, it's a good starting point). Look through the catalog and see if there are degrees offered in an area that interests you. It could broaden your horizons and get you thinking of new possibilities. Don't worry if you don't have experience in that area. As you work toward your degree, you'll learn most of what you need to know.

Once you begin to work through your degree program, don't quit and jump ship at the first sign of difficulty, work through the hard times. However, if it becomes apparent that this really isn't for you, you may want to consider switching majors before more time and money are wasted. Think hard on this option. Every time you switch is added time and will cost more money, but sometimes it's still the thing to do.

Sometimes you still just aren't sure which direction to go. Should you just not go to college until you decide? Absolutely not! You can still start the process by enrolling as an undeclared student, and begin to work through the core classes that you'll need to take regardless of the major you finally decide on.

Choosing the correct major can be a bit daunting, but in the long run it is worth the effort.

Learn more about this author, Jim Smoot.
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