When you’re a college student, the first thing you’re asked is always a variation of “so what major are you?” This can be pretty uncomfortable if you haven’t selected a major, or have a major but aren’t sure if you like it. If you’re in “major limbo,” it’s absolutely ok! Research has shown that, nationwide, over 75% of college students either come into college undecided or change their major at least once. To help you make your decision, the ELCDC has many resources available. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Remember that even though you’re choosing your major, you aren’t choosing your career. It’s important to take ALL of the skills you learn from your major and determine how you want to apply them to life after graduation. You could be a History major that goes into technical writing. You could be a Theatre student that goes into Human Resources. You could be a Marketing major that goes into travel and tourism. There are so many opportunities out there that will be a perfect match for you no matter what your major is.
- Consider your skills, values, personality, and interests. It’s always important to know who you are and what you want to contribute to the working world. There are many assessments to help you determine these areas and help you self-reflect.
- Eliminate what you know won’t work. Yes, it’s important to keep an open mind, but you also don’t want to spend 4 years studying in a major you know you won’t enjoy. Don’t like math? You can eliminate accounting. Don’t like biology? You can probably also take out anything medical related. Life is too short to devote your college tenure to a major where you dread going to class!
Choosing a major can be a stressful process with a lot of hard decisions. Keep in mind that you can always talk about your options with your friends, family, professors, and career counselors.
ALBRIGHT ELCDC 