Five things to consider when you’re choosing your college major

Whether you’re still applying to colleges or currently enrolled in a university, you’ll need to declare a major at some point. With so many college major options available, it can be tedious to narrow down the right one for you.

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1. What are you passionate about?

When choosing a university major, ask yourself what you’re passionate about. Have you always been drawn to film and photography, or did your science classes in high school intrigue you the most? Your college courses will largely revolve around your college major, so it’s important that you choose something that interests you. Otherwise, you’ll spend the next four years bored or uninspired. Your college major can also influence the type of job you get after college, and it’s important that you get a job that you find exciting.

2. What types of jobs can you get with this major?

While some college majors are intriguing, it’s important to consider what types of jobs you can get with them after college. Choosing an impractical college degree can be a waste of time and money, and it can make it harder to find a job once you graduate. For example, you may want to major in Russian history, but there probably aren’t many jobs out there that you can get with this kind of major, other than becoming a Russian history professor.

When choosing a college major, make sure to research what kind of jobs you can get with your degree, as well as the salaries you can make from those jobs. You’ll want to get return on investment from your degree—there’s no point in spending $250,000 on a degree if you’re never going to be able to pay it off. However, you shouldn’t choose a college major solely based off potential salaries, or you could end up stuck in a career that you don’t love. Choose a major that can help you get a career that you’re actually interested in and can earn a living from.

If you discover a major that you find interesting, but it isn’t profitable, consider taking it on as a minor or elective instead. This way, you still get to take some stimulating classes along with a practical major.

3. What are you good at?

Considering your strengths and weaknesses is an essential part of choosing a college major. You may be interested in pursuing engineering, but if you’ve always struggled with math and science, you’re going to have a hard time getting the grades you need to graduate. If you fail a course, you may need to retake it, delaying your graduation and causing you to pay even more for your college education. It’s also important to remember that if you have scholarships, you’ll need to get good grades to keep them. If you have a low GPA, you may lose your scholarships.

4. Is a bachelor’s degree enough?

Some careers require a master’s degree or further education. For example, there aren’t many high-paying career options with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. But if you’re interested in becoming a therapist, you’ll probably have to complete a master’s, PsyD, or PhD as well. If your desired career requires further education, you’ll need to factor in the time and money it will take to achieve advanced degrees. If further education doesn’t interest you, consider a different major instead.

5. How intense is the workload?

When choosing a college major, consider how intense the workload is. Getting a college degree in general isn’t easy, but some degrees are more competitive and require more work. This is especially important to consider if you’re a college athlete or working a part-time job because you’ll have less time to commit to your courses.

If you end up choosing a college major that is too difficult or you simply don’t love it, don’t worry—college students change their major all the time. In fact, college students change their major at least three times on average, so don’t be afraid to make the switch.¹

Deciding on a major at your college or university is a huge choice that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Once you enroll in college, explore good study habits that will help you succeed through graduation.

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