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Declaring a college major is an exciting moment along your learning journey. Sometimes, however, the choice can feel overwhelming, given the number of subjects available to study. While it might be tempting to take a quiz that promises an easy answer, this is a decision that requires more reflection.

In this article, we鈥檒l go over a framework for thinking about the best college major for you, ways to build on your major, and what to do if you still can鈥檛 decide. But first, let鈥檚 review your options when it comes to selecting a college major.

Choosing a major

College majors range by area, such as the arts and humanities, and by career focus, such as computer science or marketing. We鈥檝e compiled majors across fields and career paths. Take a moment to review the ones that sound most interesting to you:

• Business majors

• Science majors

• Social science majors

• Humanities majors

• Liberal arts majors

• Medical majors

• Data science major

• Computer science major

• Marketing majors

The most popular college majors continue to be business, health, and social sciences. Their popularity has much to do with the high median salary you may be able to earn after graduation as well as the number of openings available in each area. You may find that basing your decision on one of the more popular majors leads to more job openings and higher earnings.

How to choose a major: 5 questions to ask

While it鈥檚 becoming increasingly common to choose a major based on the career options you鈥檒l have after graduation, that鈥檚 only one factor. Many students pursue their passion, develop their interests, or follow their values, knowing that they鈥檙e developing useful skills to help them pursue a range of opportunities. Use the questions below to begin narrowing your options.

1. What have you enjoyed about your work experiences?聽

Your experiences, paid or otherwise, can reveal a good deal. Think about the past work you鈥檝e completed: this could include internships, volunteering, and part-time or full-time roles. Which responsibilities felt energizing and which felt boring?

Understanding what you liked about certain kinds of work (and what you didn鈥檛) can guide you toward a major that builds on the experiences that give you energy.

2. What are your values?聽

What you care about鈥攁nd why鈥攃an be a strong indicator when deciding upon a major. Perhaps you want to find a job that pays well after graduation. Perhaps you鈥檙e concerned about a pressing issue, like climate change, and want to contribute to addressing it in some way.

Think about your values and list them in order of priority. Doing so can help you spotlight potential college majors. For example, if you鈥檙e interested in the issue of climate change, then perhaps you want to explore environmental majors like environmental science or environmental engineering.

3. What are your interests?聽

Make a list of any of the following: your favorite subjects, passions, hobbies, and activities. See if a general theme pops up. Identifying your passion doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean you鈥檒l turn it into a career, but if you can dig deeper and figure out what you enjoy about it, you can begin homing in on majors that might allow you to develop those skills or characteristics.

For example, if you enjoy being artistic, then you may want to pursue a major in studio art or graphic design. Or if you enjoy playing chess, then you may want to explore majors that emphasize logic, such as philosophy or computer science.

4. What鈥檚 your 鈥渂ig picture?鈥�

Imagining your future can help you trace the steps you鈥檒l need to take in order to achieve that dream. Think about where you鈥檇 like to be working and, as much as possible, what you鈥檇 like to be doing. Do you want to earn a lot, or is a meaningful career more important? Do you want to live in a big city among the large industries or find something off the beaten track?

Understanding what you want your life to look like鈥攁s tricky as that can be to imagine sometimes鈥攃an be a useful exercise. Fast-forwarding five or ten years can reveal a lot.听

5. What are your degree goals?聽

There are many reasons to pursue a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree. As we mentioned earlier, it doesn鈥檛 always come down to career. List your reasons for pursuing a college degree in the first place.

These can include career prospects and preparation, quality of education, and on-campus experience, but they can also be more personal, like self-exploration, or more social, like building a community or alumni connections.听

4 other factors to consider when choosing a college major聽

The questions above can help you better understand yourself and what majors might be the best fit for you. However, there are other career- and education-related factors to take into account.

1. High-demand jobs聽

High-demand jobs translate to more opportunities. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapist jobs are expected to grow by 14 percent in the next ten years compared to 3 percent for political scientist jobs [,].

That鈥檚 not to say you should choose a major solely on career outcome potentials, but it鈥檚 a good idea to get a clear picture of what you鈥檇 like your future to entail. Going back to political science as an example, if you choose that major, you鈥檒l at least know there may be more competition for fewer jobs.听

2. Career longevity聽

Industries come and go, so choosing a major that will lead to work in a lasting field can be important, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning continue to automate many jobs and displace workers.听

Thinking about career longevity goes beyond thinking about specific industries. Studies have shown that the social skills鈥攐r interpersonal skills鈥攕tudents develop may be key to a long career. Unlike routine-heavy jobs that are becoming easier to automate, jobs that require social skills (or working with others) will likely have more longevity [].

College majors that emphasize social skills:

• Business administration

• Marketing and communications

• Physical therapy

• 笔蝉测肠丑辞濒辞驳测听

• Social work聽

3. High-paying majors聽

Knowing which majors pay the most for a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree can refine your options. According to Payscale鈥檚 College Salary Report, majors in economics, engineering, mathematics, and computer science tend to pay well [].

But don鈥檛 discount a liberal arts education, which emphasizes transferable skills you can use to explore numerous career opportunities. While graduates tend to earn less than non-liberal arts majors, they still earn more than those without a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree [5].

4. Future education goals聽

If you know you鈥檇 like to pursue a graduate degree after earning your 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚, it鈥檚 a good idea to choose a major that will help set you on the best path. Students interested in law school, for example, often major in English or communications to gain a solid foundation in reading and writing. Similarly, many students interested in medical school major in biology or another natural science subject.

What if your interests don鈥檛 fit into one major?聽

There may be times when what you like and what you want to achieve out of your education won鈥檛 fit neatly into one predesigned major. In that case, you have some options.

Choose a complementary minor.听

A college minor is an excellent way to supplement your major with a focused but less intensive secondary course of study. Minors do not have to be related to your major, but it can be helpful to choose a minor that complements your major and adds to your overall knowledge about a broader subject area.听

For example, you can major in economics and minor in business administration, or you can major in environmental sciences and minor in plant biology.听

Consider a double major.听

If you鈥檙e truly torn between two majors and can鈥檛 decide which to choose, a double major may be a good choice, though you should speak with an academic advisor to understand the amount of time and work involved. Students with double majors typically have to complete more required coursework and may need to get departmental approval.听

Look into flexible major options.听

A small but growing number of universities have either done away with majors altogether or now offer programs that allow students to build their own major, creating niched courses of study.

Investigate whether the institution you鈥檙e considering offers an open curriculum or supplements traditional classroom learning with more experiential opportunities, like internships.听

Still undecided on a college major?

In a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree program, you often have two years to take a range of classes before declaring your major. That means you have two years to explore different topics and figure out where you鈥檇 like to focus the second half of your undergraduate education.

Take electives.

Your first two years of study will likely be dedicated to completing an array of required foundational courses before you begin taking classes dedicated to your major. Use that time to take an elective or two and explore your options.

Talk to a counselor.

Colleges and universities provide counselors to make sure you鈥檙e on track by taking required courses and working toward your major. They can also be excellent sounding boards if you鈥檙e undecided and need additional guidance to find the best major for you.

Complete an internship.

Many students wait until their junior or senior year to begin an internship in their chosen field, but you can get started early. Find opportunities during the summer breaks to see if you enjoy the work and would like to further explore a related major.

Opt for a general studies major.

If you still aren鈥檛 sure where to focus your efforts, a general studies major can be a good option. You鈥檒l benefit from a multidisciplinary curriculum that draws on the humanities, arts, and sciences, all of which provide you with a balanced education.听

Explore academic majors on 糖心vlog官网观看

Earn your 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree from a renowned university on 糖心vlog官网观看. Many are designed with majors and specializations in in-demand areas, like computer science, marketing, or general business. You can learn at your own pace without having to relocate.

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