Choosing a Major (Is a Major Thing)
How many people do you know who decided on their majors right away and then went on to change their minds two or three times and had to start over each time? Believe it or not, choosing a major is not like picking at random out of a hat. There are many factors to take into account when planning for the rest of your life, which is what choosing a major essentially is. There are more obvious things, like your income expectations, whether or not you want to travel for work, and what your family planning looks like. But there is more to it than meets the eye.
A big portion of your education will be geared toward your chosen major. So, while you shouldn’t rush to settle on a major just to say you have one, the sooner you know, the better off you’ll be. Once you’re decided, then you can begin the journey into learning about that particular field. We all know the importance of career planning, so let’s discuss some ways to figure out the right major for you (and avoid the wrong ones), and how to optimize the college experience to lead yourself into a long, fulfilling profession.
Narrow It Down
As you move through school, the main thing you should constantly be working on is narrowing down your potential options. You’re a bright, hard-working young man or woman, right? So that means you have options, and lots of them. Make it a doable process for yourself by weeding out the less desirable ones and focusing your time and energy on the more desirable ones.
- Volunteer – One way to give yourself the opportunity to explore options without the commitment of buying classes on them is volunteer work. If you’re interested in animal science or animal rescue, search for organizations that rely on volunteers to work with wounded or vulnerable animals in the community. If you’re interested in the medical industry, inquire about volunteer opportunities at the local hospital. This will make the idea come alive for you, and let you see how you’d operate in those situations.
- Intern – A quick online search will show you that there are tons of internship opportunities out there, many of them work from home. In fact, I live in a more rural part of the country and I’ve had three internships this year. If you have the time to do unpaid work while you’re in school, interning is a great way to not only boost your resume but begin taking steps to having that “real job” your dad is always talking about.
- Consult a career advisor – Colleges are set up to be abundant in career-planning resources, so take advantage of that! Sit down with someone whose job it is to advise you on your professional path and ask that person every question imaginable.
- Weigh your interests – Evaluate how you spend your free time and what topics and activities naturally interest you. Notice any overlapping themes and assess what it is that you can see yourself enjoyingly spending hours of every day doing.
- Talk to your professors – Email or spend some time after class talking with the professors of the classes that you find intriguing. Ask for their perspective and try to gain insight from them into what it might be like to specialize in that area. What they have to say might surprise you.
While it is important to always be narrowing, don’t narrow too much as to restrict yourself from being open to opportunities. Part of narrowing is clearing space for the new. So keep your horizons broad enough so that you’re open to new avenues of potential that may pop up.
Things to Consider
Things to Consider
One valid point mentioned in this College Choice article is to be aware of the typical location that those in your desired profession reside in. Many careers don’t require you to move to a specific location, but some do. And even if moving isn’t a requirement, in many cases it makes sense to do so if you want to be successful in your field, so bear that in mind once you’ve narrowed the prospective career choices down. It may come down to two or three options, but if two of them would have you move across the world to a place you aren’t comfortable living, that narrows it down even more.
While you’re busy studiously consuming educational material to fill your brain with, try to also be mindful and active in the networking you’re doing during school. Create contacts and relationships that you can rely on and participate in for years to come. You never know where or who a glimmering opportunity may arise from.
Don't Stop There
College may only be four years of your life, but careers last for decades, and in some cases, for a lifetime. When your major is decided and you’re on the path to new beginnings, remember that college is not only about specific vocational preparation. Adult life begins in college, so throughout your education try to gain unbiased perspectives on societal issues and develop as, not only a professional, but a well-rounded human being. You should not only be able to write a book on your area of expertise, you should be able to deliver a speech and carry a thoughtful and lively conversation on it as well.
College is a time that you should begin measuring your progression. Many people mistakenly compare themselves to others, but we should only be comparing ourselves to our past selves and our potential future selves. This allows us to have a sense of gratitude and accomplishment while also moving toward realistic goals. And we should always be growing and changing as we move toward our goals. You don’t want to be one of those thirty-year-olds who jokes about their difficulty “adulting”. That’s what college years are for! In addition to your studies, it would behoove you to focus on “things like critical thinking, problem solving, historical perspective, mediation, leadership, emotional maturity, ambiguity, tolerance, communication, the ability to understand competing perspectives, and good familiarity with human motivation.”
October 14, 2019 @ 2:45 am
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