Choosing a College Major
Choosing a college major is one of the most important decisions that one has to take. In a perfect world, a wisely chosen major opens up a lot of doors into the world of professional success. You get a high-paying job, enjoy what you do, and have a fulfilling career. Needless to say, picking what it is that you’re going to study – programming, statistics, Matlab, law, French literature, history of ancient Egypt, accounting, or any other field – must be taken as seriously as the rest of the major life decisions. It is important for you to be aware of how the chosen major will position you for your desired field and how salaries may vary by industry over the course of a career. Check some of the crucial aspects that you have to take into account in order to select a college major that will let you grow as a result.
Always Choose Passion
The major that you’re going to pick will influence your college experience greatly. A lot of students tend to join clubs that are related to their majors and make friends in their chosen studies. Keep in mind that the college major that you choose now will shape your life after your graduation. For that reason, it is recommended to select the field that you are passionate about. Today, you choose a college major, and tomorrow you will have to deal with loads of home assignments from essay writing tasks to term and research papers. For instance, if you choose to learn java, history, or management in college, ask yourself, “Am I ready to face tons of homework in the future? Will I be happy to do every other assignment that my tutor assigns me?” You should be interested in exploring the chosen field to become a professional.
Consider STEM Disciplines
If you major in technology, science, math, or engineering (together known as STEM), both the job and salary prospects are going to be quite impressive. The reality is that the majors with the top starting salaries come from STEM fields. Nonetheless, if you’re weak with math or software skills, it is better to stay away from STEM. But if you can boast of strong problem-solving and analytical skills, and you’re curious about how the world of tech functions, you’re welcome to become a prospective STEM major.
Check Potential Salaries
For both current and prospective students, it is important to be aware of the future salaries that the chosen fields are known for. The point here is that if you have an idea of what you are going to make after graduation, you will have an opportunity to start budgeting for things like graduate school and student loan payments. Do some research online that will help you see what your professional future is going to look like.
Don’t Forget That You Can Change Your Major Anytime
As you take classes and enjoy your academic journey, your interests will change and expand alongside the skills that you gain. In other words, at some point, you may find yourself passionate about a new subject that you would like to translate into a successful career. If you make sure to make a decision to change your major early, you will have a really smooth transition. But if you choose to wait until the last minute, the process of changing majors will turn into a disaster. Check both the pros and cons of when exactly you should change your major. Feel free to approach your academic adviser to discuss all the details, browse the websites where students share their experiences, and think twice before you make any decision.
Check the Major Requirements
The truth is that the idea of the chosen major may differ from its reality. It doesn’t mean that you should reject a major only because you don’t like a requirement or two. However, it means that you have to do some research on the program in order to know what they expect from you. If the list of requirements that you can’t meet is too long, it’s better to rethink your major choice. For instance, if you give preference to programming, you should check the requirements of the major. It’s no doubt that you can approach online services to get help with programming assignment. There’s nothing wrong with asking a professional expert to check your code or a qualified writer to create an essay for you. However, if you fail to cope with every other task on a regular basis and use even cheap services instead, you will both go bankrupt and lose interest in the chosen discipline.
Consider Your Abilities
When you think about choosing a college major, make sure to consider what it is that you are good at. It doesn’t mean that you have to major in what you’re good at as a high school student. It’s no doubt that you will discover that you’re talented in something else as well as you take college courses that you had no access to in high school. However, the reality is that what you’re really good at isn’t necessarily what aligns with your goals and priorities. The key is to never choose a major that you have poor knowledge of. If you have barely managed to get C in English in high school, being an English teacher major is a very bad idea. To cut the long story, it is important to be confident that you will do well in most of your coursework in college in the chosen major.
Find Out What Alumni Have to Say about the Major
Use LinkedIn in order to find alumni of your college or university. Ask them to provide you with information on the experience they had, and how their major helped them succeed in their current career.
Major Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Career
A lot of majors – like accounting or computer science – are directly related to careers in those areas. However, many other majors simply prepare undergrads with a range of transferable skills that will be useful in various areas. For instance, if you choose history, it will help you develop or boost research skills, while math is known to help enhance problem-solving and analytical skills. After all, your potential employer wants to know how experienced and skilled you are, not necessarily what you know about the chosen major.
Finally, picking a major in college is a big deal. Nonetheless, it is important to keep in mind that it’s just a process, not a single step to take.
With a solid foundation in technology, backed by a BIT degree, Lucas Noah has carved a niche for himself in the world of content creation and digital storytelling. Currently lending his expertise to Creative Outrank LLC and Oceana Express LLC, Lucas has become a... Read more