If you’ve arrived on this page, you’re about to make one of the most important decisions of your professional life. You’re probably also feeling overwhelmed by all of the choices and wondering, “How can I make the best decision?”
You could do all the research you want and still come to the same conclusion:
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to picking a major. No matter how you approach it, it’s just too complicated a decision to be reduced to a few lines. That is why we have created this guide. We’re going to give you some ideas and techniques to help you make better decisions.
What Is the Importance of Your Major Choice?
Your major is your primary subject of study, and while it isn’t a final decision in your profession or life, it does have a significant impact on where you go and, more importantly, how much you earn. The difference in income between the highest and lowest-paying majors is considerable.This means that if money is your primary motivation, your major will have a significant impact on your future earnings.
Your major does not, however, have to be all about money, and similarly, your career does not have to be about a major. A major does not commit you to a job title for the rest of your life, especially in today’s world of frequent career changes. Only 27.3 percent of college graduates worked in a job linked to their major, according to a research. So, while your major is essential, it is not the be-all and end-all of your life.
Things to consider before picking out your major:
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
One of the simplest ways to choose a major is to think about your skills. For example, if you excel at maths, you can consider majoring in accounting, economics, engineering, statistics, or other related fields. This will help you to excel in your major, make your time at university easier, and increase your chances of pursuing the major as a career. Another approach is to consider the activities you aren’t really excellent at or enjoy doing. If numbers aren’t your strong suit, you’ll want to rule out any major that heavily relies on maths or physics.
What do you enjoy doing?
Being good at something does not always imply that you enjoy it. Choosing a major that will lead you to a job you dislike increases your chances of being miserable in the future. On the other hand, a major or job that focuses on a subject or activity you enjoy doing—something you are passionate about—is much more likely to make you happy and engaged. You’ll most likely be more driven and focused, have a better college experience, and form strong bonds with others in your field who share your passions. Your passions should play a significant influence in your decision on a major, but you must differentiate them from your “likes.”
There is a distinction between liking something and being passionate about it. Our tastes evolve over time. What you like in high school may not be the same as what you like in college, or even six months later in the same year. Your passions, on the other hand, are more profound. They inspire and motivate you. It’s not enough to enjoy political science to make you want to go to law school. It’s about being committed to justice and doing the right thing.
What are your core values?
Your essential convictions—something you stand for—are what we mean by values. A mission or a destination. Because your values determine how you live your life and how you define success, they should undoubtedly affect your key decisions.
If your objective is to help orphaned children find better homes, for example, you should select a major that will help you achieve that goal, such as social work. Consider environmental law if you wish to contribute to the development of improved environmental legislation. However, because values and views are formed later in life, not everyone has them worked out by the time it’s time to choose a major.
Where do you see yourself in the future?
When you read that question, you probably cringed. It’s fine; no one likes being asked that, especially when they’re trying to figure something out on their own. However, as painful as it may be, this is something to consider while choosing a major.
Do you intend to work in a certain field in the future? Or, if you’ve already decided on a major, do you see yourself committing to it long-term, or do you believe you’ll change careers? Although there is no way to answer these questions with 100% certainty, you should consider them.
What Universities Are You Considering?
It should come as no surprise that not all colleges provide equal quality in all major programmes. Some universities are more research-oriented, with superior programs for engineering, robotics, biology, chemistry, and other majors. Others are noted for their successful business strategies.
There are various reasons why this is important when choosing a major. To begin with, attending a university that is highly ranked for the major you have selected increases your chances of getting work after graduation. Second, you will most likely be taught by good instructors, which will enhance your learning experience.You’re also more likely to form a huge, powerful network of like-minded individuals, which is critical in today’s world. If you’ve already chosen a university but haven’t decided on a major, inquire about the university’s most well-known majors/fields and see if you can add them to your list of possibilities.
Choosing a major with Rostrum
It is unquestionably your own personal choice when it comes to deciding on a major. After all, you’ll be the one studying and working on it. However, advice from experts is very helpful since these people can tell you a lot more about majors than you can figure out by yourself. You can also use psychometric tests to help yourself with your major decision since they help you figure out things about yourself which you might not know otherwise. We wouldn’t recommend basing your decision on the test results, but they can certainly give you an idea of what areas would align with your personality.
At Rostrum, we have been making use of educational technology right from the inception of our organisation. The COVID-19 pandemic has only strengthened our endeavour to digitise through our sophisticated and state-of-the-art software and make education easily accessible to students across the world. Our counsellors combine test results with years of knowledge and experience to guide you in making the important decision of picking out a major. Register for the Intellectual DNA test today and discover your true calling.
