by Prabhjot Sukheja

Created on: December 22, 2011

Choosing a major is a significant stepping stone to your eventual academic career. Countless students are inundated with the diversity and variety of courses in colleges.

Assessment and evaluation are key components in the search for appropriate majors. Begin the search early as vacancies fill quickly for prestigious and popular courses and colleges. Many students scour websites, talk to professionals and arrange visits to potential choices.

An understanding of your intrinsic strengths, academic flair and abilities is necessary. Choose subjects that play to your strengths and build on pre- existing knowledge. You will want to pick a subject that sparks your intellect and your desire to learn. Consider the economic marketplace and recognize what skills are in demand.

Motivation and enthusiasm

High achievers tend to be passionate about their work, the subject area and contribute to the field. They enjoy and relish their work. Identify a similar calling that will not feel like a constant uphill struggle. Consider how you spend your time, what you do in your leisure, what books you read, these are all clues to your interests. Generally, you have accumulated multiple hours investing in your interests. It will be most unusual if you have not therefore gained strengths, skills and a propensity for the subject matter.

Employment

Identify work placements and voluntary employment in an allied field. Employment opportunities exist but are extremely competitive. Companies are inundated with applications from comparable candidates who may demonstrate analogous competencies, skills and behaviors.

Many students follow guidance from a well meaning significant other, although they may not have the ability, talent or temperament to make the required grade. Know your limitations, as college debt tends to follow you around and is a heavy burden to carry. Any educational investment has to return an equivalent or an interest level accumulation upsurge post graduation.

Career counseling

There are multiple online tests for aptitude assessment; a careers counselor will be able to provide guidance on the skills and educational attainment required to purse different occupations. Skilled counselors are able to assist you to make valid decisions while assessing multiple criteria.

Trialing/flexibility

It may be possible to trial a number of different majors, sit in preliminary classes and make a decision based on the information imparted and the morphology of the module and assessment criteria. Some students have a greater affinity towards a particular style of teaching and querying .This will enable you to ascertain if the teaching model is an adequate fit to your learning style and the information is clear and coherent.

Recognise that you can drop or change majors if you discover that you have chosen incorrectly, but do this as quickly as possibly!

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