How To Choose a Major

  • August 6, 2009
  • 3,902 Views
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With so many choices, it’s no wonder most universities give students two years to choose a major. Here are some ways to narrow it down.

You Will Need

  • Self-awareness
  • Goals
  • The courage to stay true to yourself
How To Choose a Major: Step 1

Step 1

Think about what classes you enjoy most. What subjects do you find interesting? What do you see yourself doing in the future?

How To Choose a Major: Step 2

Step 2

Find out when your school requires that you declare a major.

Try not to wait until the last minute to declare. If you put off the decision too long, it may delay your graduation.

How To Choose a Major: Step 3

Step 3

While you’re deciding on a major, take classes that expose you to as many fields as possible.

How To Choose a Major: Step 4

Step 4

Think about what kind of career you want. What interests you? Is it more important to you to be well paid or fulfilled? Ideally, you won’t have to choose one over the other.

Remember that you don’t always have to major in a field related to the career you eventually want to pursue.

How To Choose a Major: Step 5

Step 5

When considering a certain major, talk to people who have graduated with that degree. They can tell you how it helped – or didn’t help – them in the real world.

Talk to upperclassmen who are pursuing your possible major. They can tell you what the program is like.

How To Choose a Major: Step 6

Step 6

Still confused? Something in the humanities, like communications or sociology, serves as a good base for a variety of careers.

The program of majors (or concentrations) was introduced at Harvard in 1910.

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Comments (4)

Darlene212

My advice get an internship in a career you are interested in in college. That way when you graduate you already know people in the field and you can see if its a job field you want to pursue.

over 2 years ago by Darlene212

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patkin

I'm afraid it is not easy to get an internship when you are a frosh or sophomore.

5 months ago by patkin

Reply
HeatherM

Awesome vid!

over 2 years ago by HeatherM

Reply
WiiGirl455

Was that a real $100,000 dollar bill?

6 months ago by WiiGirl455

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