Throughout elementary and high school, you study what your classmates do. College allows you to choose what you will study in order to deepen your understanding of a subject and prepare you for a career employing that knowledge. How do you choose? You could just flip through a college catalog and choose a major at random, but careful consideration can better guide you to a fulfilling major.
Interview a Professional
Whatever career you are considering, it helps to talk to a professional in the field. Ask someone working in your career choice what it takes to get that job. Often times there are many paths to one career and it may surprise you to learn the wide variety of subjects professionals have studied before getting where they are today.
Do What you Love
Many students have favorite subjects but no idea how continuing their study might lead to a career. This lack of knowledge should not dissuade you from furthering your study in the subject. You don’t have to have a career goal to pursue knowledge you crave. Opportunities will grow from experience.
Follow the Trends
The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers several search tools. Not only can you search for jobs you know about, but you can explore trends for highest expected job growth, median pay, education level, and other variables. Furthermore, the site allows you to explore careers regionally.
Consider Your Values
If you are driven to make money, driven to make a difference for the environment, driven to help people, or driven to inspire others to action, let your drive guide you. You can even pursue your degree through an online program such as the one at Abilene Christian Academy. An ACU master’s in higher education emphasizes student affairs and conflict resolution. If you value people, a degree impacting many students could be a very rewarding choice.
It is a Start
College offers the opportunity to deeply study things that interest you. Meeting others with similar interests and discussing what their future plans can open your eyes to a life of rewarding and interesting work. Having a general idea of what you like is fantastic, but remember that it is also ok to change your mind. If you major in science only to find out it bores you to tears, change your major to something that sounds more appealing. Declaring a major is a starting point, not an end goal.
