Without further ado, let’s dive into the top 10 tips to address the common conundrum: I don’t know what to major in at college.
Starting college and knowing your potential interests may help you make an initial list of possible majors. For example, if you know you enjoy writing, you could look at majors like professional writing, communications and marketing.
Right now, your interests could be as broad as “science” or be a specific profession in the scientific field. For example, if you have always wanted to do something in the medical field, you could explore what types of medical work interest you. Ask yourself if you would rather be a doctor or nurse and work directly with patients, or be the person in the lab doing research and helping advance medical care in everyday life.
Being clear about your general interests before you look into potential college majors can be very helpful in narrowing down what you want to study. Write down all the things that interest you, and then start looking for majors that align with those interests. By doing this, you’ll begin to know which majors seem interesting to you and which don’t.
When it comes to how to choose a college major or career path, the internet has an abundance of resources that anyone can use. Many colleges and other education-related websites offer no-cost “What should my major be?” quizzes.
The website then suggests degree programs that might be a good fit for you based off your responses. If you don’t agree with the results, don’t worry. There are many more resources online to help you find your passion.
After figuring out what degree programs sound the most interesting to you, start looking at the specific class offerings in those programs. For example, GCU’s website can help compare up to four different programs from any of the seven undergraduate colleges at GCU. This page also organizes degrees based on your specific interests, and it gives you suggestions based on what you choose.
If some classes interest you more than others, that can help clarify your options for picking a major. In addition, when you start college, general education (gen-ed) courses and electives can introduce a variety of subjects. Psychology, math and history are gen-ed subjects that often spark interest.
If you don’t know what path to take, use gen-ed courses or your electives to take a variety of classes in different areas to explore your options.
Make sure you’re taking advantage of your school’s resources to figure out what programs best fit you and your interests. For example, check out clubs on campus that speak to your personal values. If you can, go to a meeting to see if you might be interested in joining. Meeting likeminded people can potentially set you on a path to finding a career you enjoy.
Different programs also host events or bring in professionals in the field to speak to students, so be sure to explore all the options offered by the college. These events can help you understand what it might be like to work in that specific field, or they could provide insight into what your potential program could look like for you.
Most colleges have career centers — on campus or online — that can help you find careers, internships or volunteer opportunities while you are earning your degree. If you use these opportunities early, you may discover what kinds of careers you might want and what you don’t want, which can be just as helpful.
Another great way to explore your options is to talk to people that have or had careers in one of your areas of interest. You can find professionals on campus or in your everyday life. If you’re already in college, you can talk to your professors and college advisors. Ask them about their careers and about the connections they made pursuing those careers.
If you’re not on a college campus, ask people you’re comfortable with about their careers or if they know someone in your areas of interest. Reach out to people on the internet through sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, or use email to ask them some questions about their careers. Most professionals are happy to help eager students find their way, especially if you share a career interest with them.
If you want to major in something broad to keep your career options open and you are an on-campus student, consider adding a minor. Minors can require as few as four elective credit classes, and they can complement your current major.
Minors can provide the chance to explore other fields or areas you may be curious about. The coursework is intended to help you gain additional skills you can add to your resume and complement your primary program of study. Keep in mind that online students cannot have minors.
Adding a second major is another option. This can add a lot of classes to your course load, especially if your majors are very different, but it may make you more competitive if you apply to any post-baccalaureate program.
If you’re considering a career that requires a post-baccalaureate degree, keep that in mind when choosing a college major. For example, if you’re considering a career as a lawyer, pre-law isn’t the only option for a major. You might consider a major like government instead. Another major may also get you where you want to go and help you explore your broader interests at the same time.
For most students, college is a serious time and an economic commitment. When choosing your major, think about the kind of lifestyle you want in the future. Some important considerations are how much time you want to commit to earning your degree, how much freedom you want in your career and what salary you could earn.
Some careers, of course, make more money than others, but they may also demand more. Consider doctors. They spend many more years than average committed to their education. The time commitment is high and they often work long hours.
As you pick your major, be sure to keep all these things in mind and understand what you’re really looking for in the future.
When they pick a college major, some people do everything right and still feel they made the wrong choice, and that’s okay. Many people begin their college experience with an idea of who they are, but they soon develop interests that they never expected to have. Many students change their major in the first year or two at college, so it would not be unusual for you to do the same.
Before you choose your major, make a list of all the possibilities at the college(s) you hope to attend. Keep the list, even after you pick a major. Then, if you think you want to choose a different major, your list of options is already started.
If you are looking to switch careers or maybe advance your education in the same field, a master program might be the right option for you. GCU offers a range of different graduate degrees, from education and nursing to business and engineering.
While you’re taking gen-ed classes or courses for your major, pay attention to the skill sets each class is trying to teach you. It could be a soft skill like communication, critical thinking or how to write a research paper, or a hard skill in your chosen discipline — each one is important. Even if you end up doing something that doesn’t relate to your major, the skills you were taught along the way may continue to benefit you.
GCU offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Staff and faculty are eager to work with you to help you meet your career goals and find the right college major. Fill out the form on this page to find the resources you need as a future or current student at GCU.
