Guest post by By Sarah Bradshaw
Choosing a college major seems like a pretty big decision in life and can be a source of anxiety for both future (or current) college students and their loved ones. The best piece of advice I can give you is to relax!
Picking a college major does not carry the weight and finality of Harry Potter’s Sorting Hat. It’s not a decision you have to stick with very long if you feel you’ve chosen poorly and it probably doesn’t have the lifelong implications that many people believe it does. Having said that here are some tips that can help ease your mind and make the decision an enjoyable one:
Know yourself.
Many people probably get picking a major wrong by putting the proverbial cart before the horse. They look at salary implications, job openings, and lifestyle choices. These are all great things to consider if you’re the type of person that can go into a career working for the money but doing something you don’t really like can be stressful and unfulfilling even if the money’s good. Instead, you may want to consider your interests.
What do you enjoy learning about? What questions would you like to explore deeper? What skills are required in this area of knowledge? Do you like to work alone or with others? What sorts of environments do people with the knowledge and skills you can acquire by pursuing this area of study work in?
The easy, all too frequently given advice about these questions is to “find your passion”. It’s probably better to find something you’re interested in and willing to work at when looking to pick a major
Do your research.
Once you have a decent idea about some fields of study you might want to pursue pick up the course catalog from the university of your choice and go through all of the courses in the major. Do they seem interesting to you? Will you learn skills that are both enjoyable and valuable? Are there any courses that you don’t think you’ll like? Are there courses that you feel you might have to take no matter what?
Doing your research is going to give a great feel for what the major is like from year to year. You don’t have to stop with the course guide either! You can email professors with questions and check with other people you may know who are involved in the same course of study!
Consider your time in college as an investment.
Colleges offer many things of value. The one thing many people concern themselves with is the credential. A little piece of paper that goes on the wall saying you completed a difficult course of study at an outstanding university and deserve the highest paying job available. Currently, in our society, this credential can seemingly be the most important thing ever! Seriously, some people have recently gone to jail chasing the best credentials for their kids! But the truth of the matter is this, no piece of paper will ever be able, to sum up an entire person and the knowledge and skills they have.
Invest yourself in college! Any major you pursue will give you the opportunity to acquire valuable skills that will transfer to the job market. Make the most of your time in school by challenging yourself, look inside yourself and outward into the world around you. By making the most of your time in college to develop as a person, rather than a credential, you will set yourself up for a fulfilling career and happy life! (No matter what major you choose.
You can change your mind. Nothing is forever.
No job or major is perfect, and no job or major is forever. Remember that you just have to make the best decision you can for now. Most people will end up changing careers at least 7 times in their lifetime. So if you don’t like what you are doing, know it is possible to change later on down the road.
If you are struggling to choose a major, speaking to a counselor can help. We have therapists who are trained to help you identify your strengths, abilities, values, and personality so you can make an educated choice about what major may be the best fit. Our counselors can also help you research and learn about different options for jobs after college and graduate school. You don’t have to figure this out on your own. We can help guide you every step along the way.
Contact us at www.wilsoncounseling.org or call us at 713-565-0922 to learn how one of our guidance counselors can help you.