Articles of the Month

Choosing a College Major

The best advice that people give when high school students worry about what college major to choose is: Don't Panic! Choosing a major, thinking about a career, getting an education are the things college is all about.

Yes, there are some students who arrive on campus and know exactly their major and career ambitions. The majority of students, however, do not and there is no need to rush into a decision about your major the minute you get there. There is good news for those who are a little unsure. A majority of students in all colleges and universities change their major at least once in their college careers; and many change their major several times during their time in college.

There are essentially six steps to picking the college major you want as Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D states in his article "Choosing a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path."

The first step is an examination or self-assessment of what you like to do. What types of things excite or interest you? What types of jobs or careers do you see yourself doing in a few years?

The second is an examination of what you can do. What are you good at? What are your weaknesses? Do you have any important skills? What were your best subjects in high school? What kinds of extracurricular activities did you participate in? Did you learn any skills from part-time or summer jobs?

The third step involves examining what you value in life and the workplace. These values include: helping society, having a positive impact on others and many others.

The fourth step is career exploration. One should explore all the possible careers that are available.

The fifth is a reality check. You need to view your options. Does it make sense to pursue a career in medicine when you absolutely do not like or know anything about science? What is realistic and what is not will help you in making the right choice.

The sixth and final step is the task of trimming down what you want and choosing a major. Your decision should be based on all the research you did and your final choice should be your own, not what someone else wants for you. Choose what excites and interests you and do not live up to someone else's expectations.