Real talk: Choosing a college major is kind of a big deal. Your major won’t just impact your college experience, like the coursework you take. It can also influence your future career path, post-graduation plans, and earning potential.
No pressure, right? OK, before you run away screaming, let’s get a few things straight. You don’t have to go into college knowing your major — you can spend the first year exploring options before picking one field of study. Most schools suggest you have a specific major set by the end of your sophomore year.
Also, it is possible to change your major later, although depending on how far along you are in your studies, it could mean adding time to your undergraduate degree (nah, we’re good).
Clearly, your choice of major matters. But how the heck are you supposed to know the right major for you? Let’s talk about it.
How important is your college major
Yes, the major you focus on during your bachelor’s degree can impact your future. But it’s not going to define you for life. Plenty of people end up in grad school programs or career paths that have little to nothing to do with their undergraduate education.
But your chosen area of study can impact job opportunities. For example, you’ll likely need a computer science degree to work in IT. Meanwhile, if you want to become a psychologist, a college degree in psychology is a good starting point.
Your choice of major can also influence your graduate school plans. A humanities degree might get you into law school, for example, but it won’t get you into medical school (since your arts degree probably won’t include med school prerequisites like biology or chemistry).
Before you panic: You can always get those credits later! A lot of humanities grads go to med school. You’ll just have to take more time to earn those credits (for example, through summer school) if you didn’t get them in your undergraduate program.
What to consider when choosing your college major
If you’re a college student struggling to decide on a particular major, don’t panic. Below, we talk about some points to consider so you can narrow down the list of different majors and pick one that’s right for you.
What job fields interest you?
Defining your dream job starts with knowing what field you want to be in. It’s one thing to say, “I want to work in medicine,” but another thing to say, “I want to be an orthopedic surgeon.”
Before you think about the job title you want, narrow it down to a certain field. Our tip? Take a hint from the general education you’re getting now. What courses do you find most interesting? Which are you eager to skip? You’ll probably notice patterns — like you can’t get enough of your science classes, but arts? Yawn.
What specific careers interest you?
If you’re one of those people who’s had a dream job in mind since childhood, this is an easy one. If not? Being asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” might be enough to send you into a panic.
Once you’ve narrowed down a field of interest, explore job opportunities in that field. Experimenting with options through part-time jobs or internships can give you insights into what those jobs are like in real life.
What is your desired field’s salary range?
Should money be the only thing that guides your future career choice? Probably not. But hey, money matters! You want to feel financially secure and be able to lead the life you want.
Take a moment to think about what your dream life looks like. Do you need the Rolex, Lambo, and penthouse apartment in the city? Are you happy to live a simpler life in exchange for a job you love? Research salary ranges for your dream job and see if your expectations and reality align.
What is your desired field’s future outlook?
This is a tough one, but we’ve got to flag it — the job market is changing thanks to advances in technology. Take artificial intelligence, for example. Experts are already predicting which jobs AI will replace and which they’ll create.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a great resource for scoping out job outlooks. This website includes job outlooks (growth versus decline) for specific positions.
For example, information security analysts can expect job growth of 35% through 2031. But computer programmers are facing a decline of 10% through 2031.
Ouch. If we had a computer science degree, we know where we’d focus our energy.
What are your passions?
Let’s put practicalities like money and job outlook aside for a second. What are you really interested in? Is there a job prospect that excites you — something you can imagine devoting a lifelong career to? Listen to that gut instinct.
Talk to friends and family if you’re drawing a blank. Sometimes, those around you know you better than you know yourself. What job can they picture you doing? You might also get inspiration from a personality type test or career placement test.
What are your academic strengths and weaknesses?
We already talked about considering which classes you love versus which you could happily skip. Let’s take it a step further: Which courses do you naturally excel in?
OK, maybe you’re a superstar and earn A’s in every class. But maybe some types of coursework come easier than others. If you hate writing papers, for example, a career in journalism or publishing probably isn’t your calling.
How much time do you want to dedicate to school?
Last but not least, how much time are you willing to devote to your education? For some people, the thought of doing anything beyond a four-year degree is a big “nope.”
Remember that certain career paths require a few more years of schooling. For example, if you dream of becoming the next Meredith Grey, you’re looking at medical school (four years) and a residency training program (three to seven years) after undergrad.
College major FAQ
Have some more questions? We’ll try our best to answer them below.
What is the best college major?
Trick question! There is no “best” college major. You can read all the rankings lists and informational articles you want, but the “best” major for you depends on your preferences — from what interests you to how much you want to earn.
This is a personal decision that every learner needs to make for themselves. Be patient as you figure out your own major. Talking to other people (like academic advisors) can help, but you’ll need to make this choice for yourself.
Can’t decide? Remember, a double major is possible!
What are the most popular college majors?
While there’s no best college major, some fields of study are more popular than others. In fact, the majority of bachelor’s degrees are concentrated in just six areas:
- Business
- Engineering
- Biological and biomedical sciences
- Psychology
- Health-related fields
- Social sciences and history
Beyond those top six favorite fields of study, other popular majors include communications and journalism, visual and performing arts, computer and information sciences, and education.
What is the highest-earning college major?
If you dream of a life of luxury, a few majors pay well right out of undergrad. Engineering roles are heavy earners, including computer, chemical, aerospace, electrical, mechanical, civil, and industrial engineering.
Computer science and business analytics majors are also top earner right out of college. But who’s No. 1? Chemical engineering graduates reportedly earn the big bucks, with a median salary of $75,000 within five years of graduation.
That said, we’re talking about the highest earnings within five years of graduating with an undergrad degree. If you’ve got the patience, you can earn a lot in fields like medicine, law, or business. But if you don’t want to put a lot of time into earning a decent living, the above degrees are a solid bet.
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