How To Determine A College Major in 5 Steps
“Every school has aspects that will help different students thrive and the college major you pick will influence your college experience”
So you just got accepted into college — where do you go from there? Perhaps you already have an idea about your major or maybe you are coming in as an undeclared student still trying to figure your path out. Many students take time to decide on what they would like to study — and that’s ok!
First, let’s get rid of some of the lies you may have heard in culture or your classroom. Does a college degree guarantee success? Not really — I’m sure you’ve heard about students who don’t work in a field related to their major. Other students change careers completely for a variety of reasons. It’s the skills you learn and apply to your work that determine your success. So why does our culture push students to college and get a degree so they “figure it out” when you get there if it doesn’t guarantee success? It’s not necessarily a cheap decision.
That’s what inspired this guide to be written. High schools will push students to enter higher education but from my experience, they come in lost and not entirely sure about their “why”. Your “why” might change throughout your time in college but I want to provide you with as much information as possible so you can make an educated decision when deciding what major can lead you to a successful and life-bringing career.
First, What Do You Like To Do?
This is one of those open ended questions you probably have heard from your parents, teachers, or guidance counselor. For some, they enjoy doing everything! Others feel like they don’t really like many things or that their interests won’t translate into a career. So let’s get specific:
- What are some activities or skills you’re good at?
- What are some topics you’re interested in?
- Do you prefer working individually or collaborating with other people?
- Are there any jobs that excite you?
- What topics do you love discussing with your family and friends?
You should also consider your values and what you want to bring into your work. Some values include: “helping society, working under pressure, group affiliation, stability, security, status, pacing, working alone or with groups, having a positive impact on others, and many others” (Hansen, n.d.).
As you answer these questions, develop a list and share it with close friends and mentors. See if they agree or maybe they have something else to add.
Look For The Best School FOR YOU, Not “The Best School”
Every school has aspects that will help different students thrive and the college major you pick will influence your college experience.
While some schools may have a “bigger name”, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll thrive there. This is not to say “famous” institutions are bad, but as a culture we have overemphasized their importance and devalued the education provided from other schools. If you were accepted to an ivy league institution, that’s great! If you’re going to a state school, that’s also great! The point I’m trying to get across is that every school has aspects that will help different students thrive and the college major you pick will influence your college experience.
Your major can influence which clubs you join and can help make friends within your field of interest and other areas of student life (Smith-Barrow & Moody, 2020). If you are a STEM major, you will likely have to take courses with labs which typically occur in large 3–4 hour blocks in the afternoon. If you declare a social science major, like sociology or psychology, your courses will involve writing a lot of papers. This allows more flexibility in your schedule but requires time management skills.
Trust your instincts and remember that everyone learns differently — focus on the foundation YOU want to build, not the name of the school you attend.
Will This Degree Provide Me A Living?
The value of college degrees change over time and as our society advances, some begin to have more monetary value in our culture. Money shouldn’t be the driving factor for your decision when picking a major; however it is important to understand how much you can expect to earn over your career. So, where do you start? Here are some practical steps to take when exploring potential earnings related to a degree:
- Begin with a google search of what jobs you could obtain with your degree of interest.
- Once you have created a list of a few potential jobs, begin to research the average salary of that job. Payscale has a comprehensive list you can begin to look at.
Tip: An average salary is a great place to start but once your list becomes smaller, look at the starting salary and projected salary over a 10 year period. For a more accurate search, look at the median salary in your location (city, state).
- Factor in debt vs. potential earnings. While I don’t recommend taking on debt, if you expect to earn a starting salary of $60,000/year and only have $5,000 in student loans, it might be worth looking into (depending on your situation).
There is no right or wrong answer but consider what you can realistically live on, which brings me to my next point.
What Lifestyle Will This Major Bring Me?
Similar to the point above, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. Do you want to be making 6 figures? Will you prioritize work/life balance? How does a potential career determine how much you will earn and how you will live? All of these questions should be considered.
For students who graduated with a social work bachelor’s degree in 2020, the average salary was $37,035/year which was lower compared to an average starting salary of someone with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering of $75,301/year (Smith-Barrow & Moody, 2020). Once again, this is not to sway you one way or another. The work required between a chemical engineer, social worker, or any other job is completely different. Some jobs require the standard 9–5 shift while others have more sporadic times. A job might require overtime regularly while another gives you more flexibility with your schedule.
To make things even more interesting — the job with regular overtime might significantly increase your salary at the expense of work/life balance. Another job might pay less but offer more benefits, time off, and great mentors. Out of all the points mentioned in this article, this is the most important. Thinking about what lifestyle you want out of college can also change during your time at an institution or even after you graduate. Constantly thinking through the life you want to build is not easy but important and that’s why you should consider working with an expert.
Talk To An Education Mentor
Finding someone who has the experience and industry knowledge can help you arrive at your destination quicker. If you’re in high school, talk to your guardians, guidance counselor, and mentors, including your teachers, coaches, or spiritual leaders. If you have already started college, talk to someone in your career services office — they can be a great resource for getting you on the right track. You can also contact the Curious Educator. At the Curious Educator, we can help provide academic advising, professional development, and mentoring! If you’re interested, check out our Instagram and DM us with any questions.
Remember that you can’t do this alone and it will take a village to help you arrive at your dream career. Talk to people who genuinely care about you and take their advice into consideration. I hope this article can help guide your path as you make your decision!
A Curious Educator
References:
Hansen R. (n.d.). Choosing a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path. LiveCareer. Retrieved from https://www.livecareer.com/resources/careers/planning/choosing-major
Smith-Barrow, D. & Moody, J. (2020). 10 Things to Know About Choosing a College Major. U.S. News. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/slideshows/10-things-to-know-about-selecting-a-college-major
