Drawing of diverse arms in various types of clothes holding up gold stars

How to Pick the "Perfect" College Major for You

What do you want to do when as an adult? Your undergraduate degree will build a foundation for your future career. Here's how to make an informed decision.

Senior year is a time for many important milestones. Not only is it your last year of high school, but it’s also the year you’ll begin carving out your path in life. By this time, you may be thinking about your answer to that dreaded question: What do you want to do when you grow up? Your undergraduate degree will build a foundation for your future career and further studies. Therefore, picking an area of study can carry a lot of pressure. Although choosing a major isn’t the same as a career path for most students—and many colleges encourage undergraduate students to explore majors for up to two years—it can be helpful to start thinking about your interests as soon as possible so your college application process is easier. Having a good idea of your desired major(s) helps when you’re picking the institutions you want to apply to or writing your admission and supplemental essays. Having a plan in mind can also ease your nerves about going off to university in general. If you’re still looking for the “perfect” major for you (if such a thing really exists), keep the following in mind to begin your path to a great undergraduate experience.

Check your aptitude and attitude

Choosing a major largely depends on a combination of your interest and passion for a subject and your ability and potential to excel. These two aspects often go hand-in-hand and play a pivotal role in your performance in the area you decide to pursue. Sometimes you have to spend more time to maintain consistent performance in certain subject areas. As you prepare for the next few years, spend a lot of time critically assessing your own strengths and weaknesses before to help you make a more informed decision. Try being pragmatic and be sure to discuss your plans with your teachers, parents, and peers.

Do your research

The hardest part of applying to college is sometimes the sheer lack of information and confusion. Rumors, generalizations, and assumptions often cloud our judgment and result in us jumping to conclusions. To make an informed decision about where to go and what to study, ensure that you have the most up-to-date information on available majors and continue to ask questions and monitor university websites. Reading a school’s course catalog and getting a better idea of the departments and course structures can help you gain a greater sense of a university’s offerings. I find it helpful to learn more about the modules and electives in the curriculum. I pay close attention to the choices available to me and the broad scope of topics covered each semester. It’s also useful to think about the perspective of the major and the learning outcomes expected. You could also think about the internship opportunities available for you to gain all the necessary hands-on work experience, as certain majors allow you to take on more roles than others.

Related: How Should I Start Exploring My College Major Options?

Determine your commitment level

Commitment is one of the most vital components of your college education. It’s the only attribute that sustains your hard work through those four years and helps you maintain your vigor to learn new things every day! Certain courses indeed require more sacrifices and dedication while others aren’t as emotionally demanding. Your interest and passion for your major shouldn’t stop at your undergraduate education, because you’ll need to continue to develop skills and faculties of learning when you apply for a job or pursue a graduate degree in your field. Moreover, some majors are tied to careers that are often more academically and mentally challenging, especially given the competition that exists in the field. Majors in fields like engineering and medicine require you to commit mentally (and emotionally) for years.   

Think about your plans for the future

Even though your professional life is a few years away, it’s prudent to have somewhat of an idea of what you’d like to do before you embark on your college education. Choosing a relevant major will help you build a strong foundation for a potential career. For example, for students interested in the financial or banking sector, an undergraduate degree in Economics or Business would be beneficial. If you see yourself in a career in law or working as a journalist, subjects like Political Science, International Relations, and English would provide good stepping stones. (But know that if you’re still not sure when you start college, many schools offer exploratory programs and career centers that can help you decide what path to pursue.)

Consider double majors, minors, and other opportunities

Although the first year or so of college often includes a common curriculum for students in the same department, you should still take the time to think about the kind of degree you hope to complete. Even if you start college without declaring a major, there’s a lot to keep in mind! There are multiple ways to accelerate your undergraduate education by up to two years and even earn extra credits. For example, many universities offer double majors, concurrent and flexible degree programs, and opportunities to take minors from different faculties to make your college experience more holistic— provided you keep your performance consistent and your focus tuned to your commitments. Be sure to keep your options and mind open to new possibilities that could interest you in the present as well as the future.

Related: How to Know If a Nontraditional Major Path Is Right for You

Overall, picking the right major for you can pave the way for a memorable college experience. Each major comes with its own challenges, but if it were really that easy, would it be as rewarding? More than anything, it’s the learning opportunities you encounter that will truly define who you are as an individual and the expertise you will garner in the future—so make it something special. 

Find schools with your areas of interest using our College Search tool—there just might be a school where you can design your major to be your "perfect" fit. 

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

Tags:

About Shivani Ekkanath

Shivani Ekkanath

As a person applying to college this year, I want to chronicle this crazy and unpredictable yet rewarding and fascinating journey so the experience feels less daunting for other students. I'm currently preparing to study Political Science for my undergraduate degree while trying my best to win a battle with the pressures of the IB diploma. I'm a lover of music, debating, reading about current affairs, dancing, baking (not too well), and writing. I'm also an an aspiring journalist and hope to attend Columbia University one day and work for the New York Times or Wall Street Journal.

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

Oberlin College

Oberlin, OH


Maurice Whan

Maurice Whan

$2,000 Spring Scholarship Contest Winner, 2021

This year has been tough for my family and myself, so receiving this scholarship has been a blessing in disguise! CollegeXpress has been an excellent resource in helping me prepare financially for college. Thank you again for this amazing opportunity!

Samantha Fils-Aime

Samantha Fils-Aime

High School Class of 2019

I love that CollegeXpress has helped me find some scholarships to apply for but also helped me succeed in school with lots of tips. I also really like how they consistently email me about webinars that teach me a lot of things from the comfort of my home!

Cameron Lee

Cameron Lee

High School Class of 2022

I used CollegeXpress to search for colleges. It helped me narrow down the schools on the West Coast and which schools had Construction Engineering programs. I made my decision to go to OSU and I am so excited about it.

Jada Bohanon

Jada Bohanon

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress has helped me find scholarships for the colleges I applied to. It was very hard for me to find scholarships in the beginning that I was qualified for. My teachers recommended this website to find some, and not only did I find some scholarships but I also got to look into some schools I hadn’t heard of before. I was very happy to have discovered this website, especially with the coronavirus spreading all over as I can’t really go visit many colleges.

Carlie Cadet

Carlie Cadet

High School Class of 2019

CollegeXpress has helped me learn about an abundance of scholarships available to me and my situation. I was able to do research for colleges in my best interest with your website. I've had multiple colleges email me and offer me multiple scholarships and things of that nature because of this website! Thank you so much for uploading scholarships I didn’t even know existed, even if my life took a huge turn and I wasn’t able to go to college straight out of high school. CollegeXpress helped me a lot in high school to be even more motivated to get into my dream college (which I did, by the way). I'm looking forward to using the materials CollegeXpress has kindly provided me for free to look for scholarships to help pay for college.