Is My Major Right for Me?
Choosing your major in college is no small decision. It requires considerable thought, preparation, and prayer. But, changing your path of study in college isn’t the end of the world. In fact, on average, college students change their major at least three times during their college career.
However, if you want to graduate on time and avoid becoming a professional college student, you need to start thinking early about how your studies will prepare you to tackle the rest of life. Here’s some questions you might want to ask yourself to make sure your major is right for you.
Will my major equip me to do what I want to do?
This question applies even if you aren’t entirely sure you know your path for the future. It’s obvious that if you want to be a nurse you need to major in nursing. But other degrees aren’t always so clear cut. For example, if you know you want to be a teacher, but you aren’t sure what age or subject you will enjoy, choose a concentration within your education major that will prepare you for a wide variety of classrooms.
Do you have the skills to do what you’re majoring in?
It may sound silly, but if you’ve never played the piano, you probably shouldn’t be a piano pedagogy major. That example is extreme, but the same principle applies to every major. Nurses, business people, scientists, teachers, and musicians all need certain skills and abilities that are not universal to all people. While college is the time when you gain the skills to do your job effectively, some things can’t be taught. When you choose or change your major, consider your own strengths and weaknesses, and choose a field of study where you can capitalize on your strengths for success.
Are you passionate about your major?
If you aren’t passionate about your major in college, you won’t be passionate about your career in the future. Ask yourself “Do I like the classes specific to my degree?” I’m not talking about the homework and hard projects and long papers. I mean do you love the material? Do you love learning how to be a teacher or a marketer or a musician? Or do you feel like you’re slugging through every class and not learning much in the process?
If you said yes to that last question, you might want to reconsider your major. If so, talk an academic adviser about your goals. Seek counsel from your parents and teachers you trust. The people that know you the best also know what you get passionate about, and they might be able to point you in the right direction.
Is you major employable?
The age old question – will you be able to find a job with your major after you graduate? It’s important to consider your employability after college because you need to make money to survive. In addition, paying thousands of dollars for a degree that won’t help you in the workforce might not be the best stewardship of your resources. If your passions lead you to a major that is not highly employable, consider supplementing it with a minor that gives you additional skills and more options.