Choosing Your Major

Selecting the right major before enrolling at a four-year university can significantly influence your future career path and personal satisfaction. It allows you to focus immediately on your chosen field, optimizing both time and resources.

Self-Assessment: The first step in choosing a major is thorough self-assessment. This involves identifying your interests and strengths through self-reflection or structured tools like personality and aptitude tests.

Exploration: Delve into the curricula of potential majors to understand the courses involved. Knowing what each course entails can help you decide if you’ll enjoy and excel in those subjects.

Experiential Learning: Practical experience through internships, part-time jobs, or shadowing professionals can provide a realistic insight into what working in a particular field looks like.

Consulting With Others: Discussions with family, friends, and professionals already in the field can provide unique insights and advice. Those who have firsthand experience in a profession can offer perspectives that aren’t available through other channels, potentially guiding your decision-making process and opening up new opportunities.

Continuous Reevaluation: Keep an Open Mind. Choosing a major isn't a decision that should be set in stone. As you grow, learn, and gather more information about yourself and the world, your interests and career goals may evolve. Keeping an open mind and periodically reassessing your choices is crucial. Regular check-ins with academic advisors and mentors can help ensure that your educational path aligns with your evolving goals.

By approaching this decision methodically and starting early, you can make a well-informed choice that aligns with both your personal interests and career opportunities, setting you up for long-term success in your professional lives.

Self-Assessment: Career Quiz

Explore your interests, your options, your future.

Find a major, degree program and career that fits you with me3®, an online interactive major and career quiz. Easily explore majors and careers that fit your interests and passions.

Then chart an academic pathway to find a degree program that leads to a career so you can design the future you want.