How to Choose a College Major
From a bachelor's degree in psychology to a health care administration degree, choosing a college major isn't always an easy task. For some, it may be as simple as making pancakes (if you consider that simple), while for others it's a tedious task filled with anguish and despair. This article will try to ease that anguish and quench it like water quenches a fire.
Where to begin?
The first and most obvious thing to consider when picking a major is what your main interest is. We all have one or two things that are very close to our hearts: things we dream about often and find ourselves discussing long into the night. If you're unsure what makes you feel like this, simply ask your friends and family. If there are things you're passionate about, chances are you talk about them a lot, whether you realize it or not. This, my friend, is where we begin.
Money is funny
I would strongly advise against looking only at the financial side. Sure, it's wise to ask whether your desired major has the potential to bring in the dough, but it's also prudent not to be limited by the dollar sign. The number of people who have been blinded by that piece of paper is staggering. You do not want to find yourself working in a job you despise simply because the average salary for that occupation is 8% higher than for the one you would have preferred.
There are plenty of sites that publish statistics on average salaries, and a quick search for average salary will give you more than enough to fill your belly. Do keep in mind, though, that these are only averages, as any mathematician would be quick to point out. An average says very little about how spread out the numbers are. For example, medicine may have a higher average salary than software engineering, but the spread is wider in software engineering: while most doctors earn a good living, a few software engineers earn an extremely high one. Many of the world's richest people are engineers, not doctors. The lesson is that if you are going to look at the money, you should look at it thoroughly.
In short, treat the salary as a side dish and not the main course.
Examine your grades
Look back at your academic career and see which courses you scored highest in. These are often the ones that caught your interest and the ones you've mastered. Although there is an obvious link between the courses you got high marks in and the ones you enjoy, this isn't always the case; correlation doesn't mean causation. There are things we are good at without enjoying them, and things we aren't very good at while having a burning passion for them. Don't be afraid of the latter case. If you really like something and find it difficult, it could be an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone. Don't avoid the things you like simply because they are difficult.
Measure twice, cut once
Whatever you do, don't jump into a major too quickly without giving it proper thought. You don't want to have to change later on. Do your research first, look at all the relevant options and then decide which major suits you best. Also, don't forget to ask your friends and family for advice. Who knows, they may have a thing or two to say that opens up new doors. Our guide on how to choose a career can help you think further ahead, too.