Choosing a Perfect Major

8 Tips for Choos ing Your Perfect Major | Post University

8 Tips for Choos ing Your Perfect Major | Post University

“What will you major in?” If you are heading to college or facing high school graduation soon, get
used to hearing this common question. Choosing a college major is a huge decision, and you don’t
want to take it lightly. These tips for choosing a major will help you understand how to dig in, discover
your options, and choose one that fits perfectly.

Tips for Choosing a Major

Undecided students can feel some confusion about how to choose from
different popular majors and focus on a field of study they love. If that’s you, here are
some tips to help:

1. Educate Yourself on All the Major Options

If you have already chosen a school, take some time to familiarize yourself with all the
different options for majors. You can also familiarize yourself with the majors in the
areas you feel called to explore. For instance, if you know you love STEM, focus your
exploration on science and mathematics majors. You may find there is a program you
didn’t know existed that you can tap.

2. Consider Your Interests

What subject interests you? What do you enjoy learning about? This can actually have
quite a large impact on your major. Choosing a major means choosing to focus a large
amount of time on one particular area, so you want to be certain it’s an area you are
interested in learning about.

By aligning your major choice to your interests, you get an additional benefit. The
people you study alongside often have similar interests, giving you the chance to make
rich friendships and professional network connections that may follow you out of
college and into your career.

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3. Consider Your Passion
Do you have an area of life and society that is a strong passion? If so, then this can
direct your choice in a major. Pursuing a career in a field you feel passionate about can
energize your future work life. Have the courage to follow your passion as a major,
especially if it has career potential.

For example, if you are passionate about helping disadvantaged or struggling

individuals, you can pursue a career in social work with a major in that field. If you love
the arts, consider a major in art, performance, or even design. When you follow your
passions in college, you will study alongside people and faculty that share those
passions, and you will better enjoy the experience.

4. Consider Your Strengths

College is going to be harder than high school. You should expect it to challenge your
abilities and your thinking. However, if you explore a major field that aligns with your
strengths, it will be attainable with a bit of hard work. So, consider your strengths.

Are there certain areas where you excel? Is there a way to channel these toward a
major? You will find that college is far more enjoyable if you are able to focus your
studies on a field that comes somewhat naturally to you. Having success in that field
will make your college experience very rewarding.

5. Get Help from an Advisor or Faculty in the Major

Once you start leaning toward a particular field or major, it’s time to start getting more
specific advice. Reach out to the advisor or a faculty member who works in that major
or the over-arching field that supports it. Set up a time to talk to them about their
department. Get to know more about what you will study, what career potential there
is, what are the benefits and drawbacks of that line of study, and whether your skill set
fits well.

6. Take Intro Classes that Explore the Major

If you are settling on one particular idea for your major, the next step is to take classes
to explore the major and see if it fits. Many intro classes can expose you to the over-
arching ideas of the major field, and you can then decide if it fits your goals. These
classes may not translate into another major field if you change your mind, but they
give you a safe place to explore ideas and ensure that the major is something you want
to spend three to four years’ time and money pursuing.

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7. Consider Future Careers and Earning Potential
Most majors have career path opportunities attached, but this is definitely something
to explore. You need to spend your time, energy, and money pursuing an education
that will translate into a paying job in the future. As you explore career options, don’t
forget to explore earning potential of those careers. Make sure that the career you are
pursuing not only lets you follow your passions, but also gives you enough potential
income to pay your future bills.

8. Talk to Others About Their Majors

Discuss major choices with others you know who are in college or recently finished
college. Ask them what they do or do not like about their major, how they chose, and
what they would do differently if they were at your stage in the decision-making
process.

Choose people to talk to that have similar career goals as you do, so you can get solid
advice about that field and how it might relate to you and your passions.

As you are considering your options for a major, reach out to the admissions team at
Post University. We have a long list of undergraduate degree programs you can look
at to determine the right fit for your needs. Our admission team will connect you with
advisors and other faculty members that can help you consider your options.

Guided Discussion:

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