{"id":124600,"date":"2022-09-09T13:17:19","date_gmt":"2022-09-09T20:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?p=124600"},"modified":"2022-09-09T13:17:22","modified_gmt":"2022-09-09T20:17:22","slug":"how-to-choose-a-major","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-a-major\/","title":{"rendered":"What Should My Major Be? How to Choose a College Major"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever found yourself wondering, \u201cWhat should my major be?\u201d In this article, we\u2019ll be helping you figure out how to choose a major. We\u2019ll be explaining what a major is, covering easy college majors, and discussing the main things to consider when choosing one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re still struggling to choose among various fields of study, we\u2019ll also be listing the best majors for undecided students<\/a>. \u201cWhat should I major in?\u201d is a question on the minds of many young people, from the undecided undergraduate student to the overwhelmed high school senior. This article will give you what you need to deal with this common issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is a Major?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A major is a specific area of study that college students follow in the course of earning their undergraduate degrees, as opposed to graduate degrees<\/a>. It consists of a set of core courses that are aligned with potential careers that students would like to pursue upon graduation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a student wants to major in computer science, for example, they might end up with a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Computer Science<\/a>. Courses in one\u2019s major take up roughly 50 percent of most undergraduate programs, with the remaining coursework devoted to general education classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Should I Major In? 5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Major<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When deciding what to major in, consider your interests and passions, your strengths and weaknesses, and how much time you have. The process for how to choose a major also entails reviewing each type of program\u2019s cost of attendance and researching the job market for your future career, including median salary estimates and the availability of jobs in that field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interests and Passions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is not uncommon to hear people say that if you find a job you love, you\u2019ll never have to work a day in your life. When people follow their passions and pursue their ideal career path, they don\u2019t need help staying motivated or inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing a major that fits your interests will help you be more focused, do more independent research and self-study, and ultimately get better grades. Unfortunately, not everyone knows what their interests and passions are at the time of enrolling in a college degree program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t yet have a major in mind, take some time to reflect on what you love doing. Think about your hobbies or your favorite subjects in high school. You can even try doing an online personality quiz, like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator<\/a> questionnaire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another way to choose a major in college is to look at your high school journey and reflect on what you were best at. The best majors for undecided students are often closely related to the areas where they excelled. Consult with a career advisor and use your best subjects as a starting point to help you decide what to study in college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that your strengths don\u2019t have to be directly related to an academic subject. For example, if you were an average high school student but always gave incredible presentations or excelled in debates, you might decide to major in communications and pursue a communications bachelor\u2019s degree<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Career Salaries and Job Outlook<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While some are motivated by their passions, others are just passionate about money. If high earnings are important to you, pursuing a degree in a STEM discipline might be in your best interest. These days, majors related to science, technology, engineering, and medicine are among the most lucrative degree paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM careers make up many of the highest-paying occupations<\/a>. The average annual salary for many of these occupations is well over six figures. A high-paying job, however, isn\u2019t always easy to get. When choosing your major, you might also want to consider the fastest-growing occupations<\/a>, which are often the safest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Studying for four years is not an option for everyone. If getting a good job as quickly as possible is a priority for you, consider looking for schools that offer accelerated degree programs in the field that you\u2019re interested in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of these programs allow you to get your bachelor\u2019s degree<\/a> in two to four years by using transfer credits or taking knowledge-based exams. Others combine a bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degree<\/a> into one, allowing you to complete both your undergraduate and graduate program in five years instead of six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cost of Attendance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For some students, especially those with financial needs, the cost of attendance matters a lot. An affordable school may not offer as wide an array of choices as a more expensive one, and the cost of tuition and books sometimes varies by major. Whatever you do, be sure to check whether the schools you\u2019re interested in applying to offer financial aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should also try figuring out if the schools and programs you\u2019re interested in have any scholarships and grants available. While many of these awards are geared toward the general student population, a few are restricted to students enrolled in particular majors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Majors for Undecided Students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not all undecided students instinctively know how to choose a major. They might not have any field of study or particular goal in mind, or they might be trying to choose among several fields of interest. Luckily, there are many majors in college that can lead students with broader interests toward a variety of potential careers and industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the best majors for undecided students are business administration, communications, English, biology, and liberal studies. These are all great potential majors for undecided first-year students because they offer several transferable skills, continuing education options, and access to a wide range of careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business Administration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Business administration majors are great for students with leadership and problem-solving skills. A business major\u2019s typical coursework goes over various topics that can be used to succeed in business across a wide variety of industries. Some popular course types in a business program include accounting, management, and marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can I Do With a Business Administration Major?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Business administration majors usually allow students to specialize in finance, accounting, economics, management, or international business. This level of breadth lays open a wide variety of career choices, including baking, education, finance, law, and entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n