Picking a Major is a Major Decision

Remember way back when you were deciding where to go to college? It probably seemed like one of the biggest choices of your life.

Think back to how you made that monumental decision. It probably involved a good deal of soul searching on your part. You most likely asked yourself, "What do I truly want from my college experience?"

Similarly, when deciding on your college major, you will need to assess your priorities. Choosing your major sets you on a certain career path. Once you're on a path, changing it requires extra work, so it's a good idea to do some research before you pick your major.

Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., developer of QuintCareers.com and author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Choosing a College Major", advises students to be prepared for change through out their careers. "Your major in college is important for your first job after graduation," he asserts. "But studies show that most people will change careers--yes, careers--about four or five times over the course of their lives. And no major exists that can prepare you for that!"

But even if you do end up changing careers that frequently, the major you choose is certainly going to impact your future. Imagine how different your career might be if you choose to major in art history versus engineering, for example.

So how do you make this difficult choice?

Make an Appointment
When contemplating majors, an important step is to make an appointment with a counselor at your campus Career Center. "You should try to find the most helpful advisor," agrees Sara Miller from JZMcBride & Associates in Cincinnati. "That can really affect your college career."

Through individual counseling and a variety of self-tests, the trained experts at your Career Center can help you figure out what's the best major for you.

While your parents might encourage you to major in something "marketable" like business or finance, it's important to follow your heart. Don't downplay majors that speak to your passions, like art or literature majors, if that is what truly interests you. Remember, your degree will be valuable and marketable no matter what.

For more information on various majors and what career paths they lead to, check out, "What Can I Do With a Major In...?" at http://www.quintcareers.com/majors/.

Not a Minor Detail
Along with choosing a major, you will also need to pick a minor. This is an opportunity to study something that complements your major or something in an entirely different field that you would like to study in more depth.

Ultimately you are in college to learn. Pick your major and your minor based on subjects that appeal to you and fields that you wish to study.

"I was able to take classes that interested me and helped me decide what I wanted to do for a career," explains Miller.

Changing Your Major
Many students pick a major early in their college career, but after they take a few more college courses they realize their interests lie elsewhere. This results in many students changing their majors.

Changing your major is not a big deal, but you should try to limit how many times you do it, since you will have a specific number of required classes to take for each major. Each time you change your major it could potentially add semesters (or years) onto your college career.

"I was a college student that changed her major three times," says Miller. "All I can say is that if you don't mind taking five-plus years to graduate, changing your major is no big deal..."

Helpful Resources:
There are also a number of books that you may find useful, including:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Choosing a College Major
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=1592576850/dynamiccoverlettA/
by Randall S. Hansen

The College Board Book of Majors (College Board Index of Majors and Graduate Degrees)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0874477654/dynamiccoverlettA/
by The College Board

How to Choose a College Major
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=007146784X/dynamiccoverlettA/
by Linda Landis Andrews

This blog was written by Valerie Anderson

Have any questions you want answered? Click here.