Your Major Choice!

“Woohoo! I got in to college! Now, what the heck do I want to do?!”

By this time, there are those of us who have already decided what to major in and there are also those of us who have no idea!

Whatever the statistics are between students who have declared a major and students who haven’t, just know that at least, you are not alone at the state you’re in with your decision or “indecision” (as Stewart & Colbert say!).

For those declared majors:

Congratulations! It’s always nice to at least place some sort of starting ground into a direction you can see the end result to, especially if you know it in your heart of what you feel you’re meant to become. You can already start meeting professors and advisors in your major, as well as getting acquainted with certain clubs or groups that are focused around that area as well. The more you inquire about, the more you will get a better feel for what you are really going to sink your feet into.

For those undeclared:

Congratulations! You made the great decision in realizing that you may be open to more than just one major out there. In fact, I think it’s a wise decision on your part to be undeclared for the time being. That is what GE classes (General Education classes) are also for! And the time it takes to decide varies. No need to feel rushed, nor pressured into the obvious (high money making careers, family expectations, career popularity, etc.) It’s what YOU feel is right and especially passion-driven for YOU.

Of course, BetterGrads.org is a great way to get advice and information with tons of resources and links. In my previous college experience, I came across assessment tests to also help give me a better understanding on the types of majors I may be interested in based on my preferences, interests and personal goals. A great link for assessment tests is MyMajors.com. But this doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to just once test. There’s many major test assessments online available to you that could also give you another range of results. Just type in “college major assessment tests” or “career aptitude tests/assessments.”

Some simple tips and advice on helping you choose a major (in which some you may know already, but hey, it’s always good to get a reminder of them once and a while!):

1. Initial advising (incoming Freshmen): Oh yes. Highly suggested, mandatory for some universities and optional for others. But as I like to advise, utilize every resource you can get your hands on! The more information you know, the better and easier it will be to plan out the next 4 or plus years if desired, and prevent having to back track and stress over missed opportunities later on.

   True story: A friend of mine was denied graduation because of just ONE GE course he was supposed to take, but never realized he had to. Because of that, he went on for almost two years trying to figure out (in cost effective ways) how he can take that one course just to graduate!

   Two lessons from this: 1) Keep track of your courses! There should already be an automated visual checklist system that your college provides to keep you on route to graduation. Plus, again, utilize the help of advisors (or even your student career and one-stop centers). Make them your go-to guide! 2) NEVER ASSUME what you think you may know to be valid in the academic system. Things can always change, can be utterly confusing sometimes and you may get several different answers to one question. Always refer back to a valid resource to get clear answers and always check back every semester to help maintain your academic progress.

2. Organizations, clubs, groups, programs: When you place yourself in an environment of students with similar interests, goals, beliefs, or traits, you have the ability to gather a plethora of knowledge and information just from that one group. Many of these groups have an established foundation of members, officers, alumni and even faculty/staff advisors that you can have access to network with.

   It’s quite exciting to uncover what you can find in these opportunities to not only expand your network, but to also show what you can contribute to that group. You also may discover your own hidden talents and abilities from the number of ways you involve yourself.

3. Applying the “trial and error” strategy: In some cases, through your quest for knowledge in a field of interest you might find that it may not be what you were looking for. And for some, it can be quite frustrating, but is always a positive experience to play trial and error in the college arena. Of course, that’s what college is also about: for you to gain enough to decide what is best for you based on the interests you pursue, the classes you take, the resources you tap into, and the people you meet along the way.

   Your growth into adulthood and into your career path will constantly be evolving throughout your college years, whether you stay in one major or switch to another. It’s ok to switch, it’s ok to take a step back and look at the big picture, but ignoring the challenge won’t solve it.

4. Don’t be shy!: This is your time to try new things (of course non-harmful things!), meet new people, have that Spirit of Adventure not only in your acamedic journey, but in your personal growth as well. You’ll make discoveries of a lifetime and have experiences that will teach you many valuable lessons. Your college experience is your playing field, your experiemental lab, your canvas. And this may seem a bit repetitive to what you have been hearing from family and friends (especially in high school graduation cards!), but make sure those words sink in. Face every new day with a smile, even if some days seem rough.

   You’re in a great position to mold yourself in this next phase of your life, even if you don’t know where things will lead to. At least you’re doing something to learn and build up such skills and talents you’ll be able to show for in the next phases of your life. And, sadly, not many are fortunate enough to have that opportunity to do so. Only you can live out your full potential. And the more you put into it, the more will come out of it. Take it as positively as you can, and you’ll do just fine.