How to Decide What to Major In at College

Picking the right major for you is a seemingly complicated task. Knowing what to do with your life at the age you begin college seems like an impossible feat. There are some ways to make the best decision possible when looking to pick the right major. You can learn more here programs that are designed to equip students interested in impacting their communities with the leadership skills and tools they need to enact change across a broad range of sectors and career paths. You may start by choosing a Christian or baptist university, and then look into the available courses and programs they have. 

Take an Online Quiz to Narrow it Down

It seems crazy when you are about to go to school and have no idea what you want to do with your life. You might want to major in something you love, but have no idea what that is. It is okay to not know exactly what you are doing, but there are some strategies to help you figure it out. One of those strategies is taking an online quiz to learn about what you would be good at. This obviously isn’t a complete answer, but who knows? You might get a job recommendation you hadn’t even thought of. A What Should I Major In Quiz can give you a starting point in your career path search!

Do Some Shadowing and Career Exploration

One way to really know if you would like a position is to shadow someone in it! Take a look at people in your community who have jobs you admire. Then, take some time to reach out and see if they are interested in letting you shadow them for a week. This will let you figure out how to get to their position. You can learn about where they went to school, what they majored in and what got them to this point in their career. You also will be able to see if you could see yourself in that position! This is a simple and effective way to exploring potential careers.

Scared of reaching out? Remember that they were in your shoes at one point in life. Take that into consideration when getting cold feet about taking the leap and asking to shadow someone!

Make a List of Things You are Good At

There are countless certificate programs to choose from so it’s important to take a step back and be realistic with yourself about what you are good at. If you are good at math, analytics and critical thinking, look up jobs that fit that description. If you are creative, think about graphic design, marketing, journalism or another industry that aligns with this talent. Those who have programming or networking skills may take it courses to become more competent in the IT industry. Knowing what you are good at and could excel in will be great for helping you pick a major. If you are interested in liberal arts, a liberal arts degree is a great sturdy foundation.

Whatever you excel at, there is a degree out there for you. You just want to be realistic with yourself about what you think you will be good at when working. If you want to study occupational therapy, then go for it. You don’t want to lie to yourself and work towards a field that you won’t excel in.

Look at Programs that Have a Work Life Balance You are Looking For

Decide what kind of personality you have when it comes to work. If you are someone who likes to relax and take time off, a high stress job might not be right for you. Look into positions that have loose vacation policies and allow for slack in the workplace. With that being said, if you are someone who values working a bunch of hours and reaping high rewards, then you might want to look at jobs with more pressure resting on them. There is no right or wrong answer in this case, it is all up to you!

Take all of these tips into consideration when picking a major at a school like Sacred Heart. If you are smart about your decision, you will definitely be happy with your choice!