BY: Tommi Jo Miller
If you have yet to choose a major, do not feel alone. On average, 20% to half of all college students have not chosen a major at the start of their college career. The U.S. Department of Education cites almost 60% of college students taking 6 years to graduate with a traditionally 4-year bachelor’s degree. This number, which could be a cause of changing majors, promotes the need to find a major sooner rather than later.
Huffington Post’s Gianna Sen-Gupta researched with college advisors to find tips on how to make choosing a major easy.
Do what you find interesting. The number of majors to choose from can be surprising. Nearly every interest an individual has can translate to a career path. If a student loves going to the gym, physical education, exercise science, or kinesiology are all possible majors.
Take introductory courses to dip your toe in the water. To get an idea as to what a certain field entails, take an introductory course in that area of study. If human behavior and relationships are fascinating to you, take introduction to sociology or introduction to psychology. Introduction to visual arts could be an intriguing class for those with a passion for art. These introductions give an idea as to what the subject really involves, and it can help rule out a major very fast.
Seek help from others. Advisors are here to do just that—advise. Advisors will email you in the weeks before registration for the following semester. These one on ones are a great time to sit down and talk about your options. Another option is to ask for assistance from family and friends. These people have an outside view that could be vital to making this important decision. Their input on your skills and personality could point to an obvious career path.
Know what you are getting in to. Keep in mind that a major becomes a large part of life for the length of your college experience. Make sure you are not getting in over your head. For example, if math is difficult for you, accounting will likely be a bad choice of major. If you are a strong writer, try looking into English or journalism majors. Having strong people skills could point to a human resource management or public relations major. This method ensures the choice is not going to lead to misery, but instead to excellence.