"Choosing a Major"
QUESTION:
What’s the best way for me to pick a major?
ANSWER:
People pick majors for a lot of different reasons. Not all of them are productive.
Here are some common reasons given for having picked a major by students considering changing majors:
- “My parents wanted me to pick this one,”
- “ It seemed to be the thing to do,”
- “ I thought it might be interesting (but now I’m not so sure),”
- “ I couldn’t think of anything else,”
- “ BUT I FIGURED I’D BETTER PICK SOMETHING.”
A more productive approach to choosing a major may be to invest some time thinking carefully about your interests, about possible careers which your major can lead to, and about whether investing a significant portion of your life in one of those careers will prove to be rewarding and enjoyable for you.
Career Services can help you think through your options academically and professionally. John Clark, the Career Guy, offers career interest inventories and individual career counseling to help you determine where your interests lie, and which career options may be worth considering. He can also provide you with information about careers, and about which majors will help you prepare for your chosen career path. You may also want to interview someone who works in the field which you are considering. Conducting an informational interview is a great way to learn what working in a given field is really like.
Your academic adviser is another excellent source of information and advice. Academic advisers have more to offer than just helping you decide which classes to enroll for. Your adviser is a specialist in his/her field. She/he may be able to offer valuable insights about the career you are considering, or to suggest career or academic options you haven’t considered.
Above all, don’t be overwhelmed by the need to choose a major. It is an important choice, but one you can make with confidence if you are willing to invest some time, effort and reflection.
Questions about careers? Ask the Career Guy @ careers@bgnet.bgsu.edu