"What are you majoring in?" You've probably heard this question more than a few times. Maybe you know what you will study. Maybe you have no idea at all. In either case, here's some help with the decisions you will need to make.
First of All, What's a "Major"?
Every college expects you to "major" in a field of study in order to graduate. A major consists of a defined set of related classes and may include other requirements, such as an internship. Majors can cover a broad field, such as biology, or focus on part of a field, such as genetics. Majors can focus on a career, such as elementary education, or on a theme, such as world studies. "Minors" are similar to majors, but the course requirements are lighter. Some people pick minors to supplement a major or to balance out an education.
What If I Don't Know My Major Yet?
The most common major for entering freshmen is "undeclared," in other words, no major at all—yet. If you are "undeclared," you will have time during your freshman year to explore different fields and select your major as a sophomore. If you are truly unsure where your interests lie, consider choosing a college that offers you opportunities to explore a diversity of fields.
Sometimes a college requires you to indicate a major on your application—and "undeclared" is not an option. In this case, you might select a broad discipline you find interesting, such as physical sciences, humanities, social sciences, or business. You can change your major later as you learn more about what's available and what interests you.
Bear in mind that some majors, such as those in the sciences, require students to take a large number of courses beginning in their freshman year. If you are interested in such a major, but are not ready to commit, do your best to make a decision before you start college—perhaps by taking classes in that major at a local college. Alternatively, you can plan to take a variety of classes as a freshman, and then take an extra year to graduate if necessary.
What If I Have an Idea of What I Want to Study?
If you have certain disciplines or majors in mind, it makes sense to limit your search to colleges with particularly strong programs in those areas. What should you look for? First, make sure the college has a department or at least a big group of professors devoted to that major. On the department's website you will usually find the number of professors and their degrees, honors, and awards.
Next, find out how popular the major is at the college. Look for the percentage of students enrolled in the program, the number of scholarships offered to students in the major, the presence of a graduate program in the field, and the percentage of students in the major who complete their studies and graduate. If graduate school is your goal, find out the percentage of students who go on to complete higher degrees and what schools they attend.
To get answers to your questions, you can contact the academic department at any college directly and ask to speak with someone about the undergraduate program. The admissions office can help you make that connection if you are not comfortable doing it on your own. Another approach is asking professionals in your field of interest about the colleges they recommend and their opinion of the colleges you are considering.
See our article If You Have a Major in Mind for more tips on finding a college with a strong program in your major.
Use College Match to search for colleges by discipline or major. The College Profile will list the undergraduate and graduate programs offered, and the most popular majors at that college.
What If I Want to Prepare for a Career?
If you are rock solid in your career choice, don't assume that there is only one path to success. For instance, there are few formal "prelaw" or "premed" majors. Professional and graduate schools may require or recommend courses as preparation—such as biology and chemistry for medical school—but you have some latitude in your choice of major. For help in planning the best undergraduate course load for a career or advanced study, turn to your school counselor, colleges with strong professional or graduate programs, and people already working in the field.
One option is an accelerated combined degree program, which combines two to three years of undergraduate coursework with two to three years of professional school. You get your professional degree faster and hence, cheaper. Learn more about these programs in our article Is a Combined Degree Program Right for You?
If you simply want to make sure your major is "practical," consider a college with many career-oriented majors, such as accounting and education, and lots of opportunities for internships and other real-world exposure. Sampling introductory courses and getting hands-on experiences during your freshman and sophomore years should give you a good feel for where your talents and interests lie.
You can also pursue an undergraduate degree in a broad field and build on it after you graduate. After all, the world of work evolves rapidly and your future career may be just emerging.
The worst time to pick your future major is when you are filling out a college application. Try to remain open. Plenty of students enter college committed to a certain career, only to discover alternative fields that are even more fascinating. After all, discovery is what college is all about.
