How to Choose a College Major

A recent graduate poses on a stairway with her diploma in hand.

You're in college - now what?

Getting accepted to college is just the first step in the process. Your first two years in school will likely be taken up by basics classes shared across majors. Depending on your school, it might be your sophomore or junior year when you must declare your major. This buys you a little time before you must make the decision on your major.

Research and information

Your first step will be to conduct research. Though the thought of doing homework before signing up for any classes might seem daunting, it will save you from an entire semester of uninteresting classes. Read through all of the course offerings at your school, and highlight those you might be interested in taking or learning more about. Once done, flip back through the course listing and count the number of courses highlighted in each area of study. Where there more math classes or did you lean toward the social sciences?

Get to know your academic advisor. He is there to help you to choose your course of study in college and monitor your academic progress.

Know Thyself

Student, know thyself to know thy major. Personality tests and career aptitude tests can help you to narrow down your major options. Talk to your academic advisor to see what he recommends based on the findings. If you find your advisor less than attentive, seek out aid from another instructor at the school, preferably one who knows you through a class. Most colleges also have career centers with information about future prospects after school. Read information on careers that even mildly interest you. Most career pamphlets will have suggested college majors and course to take for that area of work. The small amount of time you spend researching now will save you from uninteresting courses by choosing the wrong major.

Do not despair if you find yourself on Major changes are accepted and common. Many of the courses between majors are shared, but you might find yourself in school for five or six years instead of four. If you change majors late in your college career, consider making your original major a minor or a double major.

Most career pamphlets will have suggested college majors