Not really passionate about anything? Passionate about too many things? Having trouble finding the right college major for you? Learn how to find some clarity heading into college.
We’ve all heard how important it is to head into college with an idea of what major we wish to pursue. It is most definitely not an easy task, especially when you don’t feel passionate about anything.
The fact that there are so many careers to choose from doesn’t make it any easier. Most people end up choosing a major that is said to pay you well once you graduate, but in some cases that ends up being the worst mistake they could’ve made.
Other people have always known what they’ve wanted to do their whole lives. Others may choose something they consider easy just to get a degree and are happy with it and make a career out of it, and others choose majors halfway into their college paths.
I’ve seen all different sorts of scenarios, but at the end it depends on what feels best for every person in terms of their goals, priorities, and comfort. Here’s what I recommend considering in order to choose a path you like in college from the start:
#1: Follow your dreams!
The best way to go about choosing a major for college is by being honest with yourself. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do since you were a kid, go for it. It doesn’t matter if you think you won’t be making much, as long as you choose a career that you see yourself being happy in everyday, nothing can compare to that happiness of working in something you love.
If you want to do something that seems impossible, find ways to make it possible.
Search colleges that have good programs and can give you good financial aid to achieve your dreams. No career is easy, they all come with their challenges at their given time.
These challenges feel easier when they are related to something you are passionate about. Whether it be singing, dancing, drawing, or cooking, if it’s something you’ve always been passionate about, go for it no matter what others say.
Literally, follow your dreams!
#2: Don’t do it for the money
The worst mistake I see people make is choosing a major that they don’t like but choose it because it can lead to a high paying job. These people struggle so much in school and oftentimes decide to switch majors somewhere along their first two years of school. Even if they’re successful, these people end up stuck in careers they hate for a long time.
I understand finding a good paying job is important to everyone, but it shouldn’t be the reason you choose a path you’ll hate down the road. I can guarantee you that someone who makes $70,000 a year in a job they love will be much happier than someone making $300,000 a year in a job they hate.
A major is meant to be something you enjoy doing, from the moment you take your first class to the moment you stop working.
#3: Research potential majors and the careers you can take with that degree
Your major is only as good as you want it to be. There are so many careers out there that you’ve probably never heard of. Researching the different careers you can take with your degree is so important.
Let’s say you choose a major in a language you want to teach at schools. What if the major you choose is good enough to be a teacher, but it’s not good enough to be a private tutor at the nation’s best tutor company. What if you chose to major in business administration, but it’s not good enough to be a hedge fund manager at a firm.
You need to consider what your degree can get you and whether that’s what you want in life. Every career has so many different branches, and if the branch you want to grab isn’t sturdy enough with the degree you have, you won’t be able to reach your goals.
On the other hand, there may be degrees like history that can allow you to work in two industries like banking and lawyers. Doing the research is tedious, but it’s necessary.
#4: Find out how many years of college you need to get into the workforce
Every major is different. Some careers like finance only need four years to graduate, but others like becoming a doctor can take way more time. More time oftentimes means more money.
You need to decide if it’s worth studying all those years and whether you’ll be able to pay your debt. The last thing you need is to drown yourself in debt for a career that won’t return the amount of money you invested.
You need to be honest with yourself and see if you can afford to put your life on pause for so long to get that degree you want.
#5: Know your favorite subjects and your best subjects from school
I always tell this to the younger people in my family. If they have no clue what they wish to study in college, I tell them to list their favorite subjects from school and what classes are their highest grades are in school.
You want to make sure you choose something you like to do for starters. If you don’t, college will feel miserable and harder than it may be.
My rule of thumb is to feel motivated about something. If you like math and science, you can start narrowing your options right then and there. If you hate writing, you can find careers that don’t involve much writing or any at all.
However, you should consider your strengths in school as well. You may hate writing, but it may be the best grade you have in school. It doesn’t mean you have to look for something with writing for a major, but at least consider the perks that can come with that and keep the door open.
Keeping an open mind about things can come a very long way when making these important decisions.
#6: Know what your goals are in the future
This is something that is overlooked by many of us, especially since we’re young when we have to choose a career. We don’t get told by many people to consider things like raising a family, moving to another state, or to consider how much time work will take out of our days on a daily basis.
If you plan on having a family at some point in the future, will your job get in the way of that? Will you always be working long hours to the point you can’t be there for your family? Do you plan on living in the same city you’ve lived in your whole life? Does your major involve working in somewhere completely different?
My point is that many people don’t consider a work-life balance when they choose a major. At the end of the day, your health is more important than the money you’ll be making. Set some goals for yourself and consider whether you can achieve them in the field of study you choose.
#7: Start searching as early as you can
I would say it’s safe to say most people start searching for a major their junior year of high school, including myself. I think beginning your college major search should begin your sophomore year of high school.
Not only does it give you more time to do more research, but it allows you to express interest into certain colleges a lot earlier. That looks really good to them and will play to your advantage.
Better yet, if you know for sure what you want to major in sophomore year, it gives you time to participate in competitions related to your major and fairs that companies and/or colleges host. You can put your name out there sooner, and that’s something not anyone can do.
There’s no rush to choose a major as a sophomore in high school, but if you can, take advantage of it.
#8: Lean on the adults in your life
If you feel confused or unsure about what you want in life, it’s always best to speak to an adult you trust. I’m sure they can give you really good advice on their experience when they were in your shoes or what they wish they could’ve done if they had your opportunity.
Not only that, but if you talk to your teachers for example, they might even be able to connect you to someone that works in a career you may be interested in.
Adults can give you their opinion on what they see you doing in life, and they’ll tell you what your strengths are for sure. They’ll remind you of your accomplishments from the past and encourage you to keep looking for what it is you want your life to become.
I think the best way to find something you’ll like to do in the future is by being not only honest to yourself but being open with other people you can trust. It may seem like it’s not much, but hearing the advice of an adult is life changing.
I think it’s important to note that not everyone will choose something they follow through with for four/five years in college. Things happen in life that change the minds of people and they can most certainly choose their majors at some point of college.
It can happen, but I want readers to understand that they have tools and resources to figure what it is they want to become, not only professionally, but individually in life. I want readers to be able to leave high school knowing they chose the major that’s right for them. The rest is up to them and whatever life brings them.
