How to Choose a Major: A Step-by-Step Guide with Career Tips

Choosing a major is one of the most important decisions in life because it shapes one’s academic and career path. Therefore, it is no wonder that this decision causes a lot of stress for students who feel pressured not to make a mistake that could cause their life to take an unexpected turn.

However, with the right insight and support, choosing a major can also be an inspiring and rewarding process.

In this college major guide, we’ll analyze the key factors that help you make an informed choice and maximize your educational potential!

6 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Major

There are numerous important factors to consider when choosing a major, and the best choice is rarely based on only one of them. However, some factors can be more important than others, depending on your personality types and life goals.

That said, here’s an overview of key considerations when choosing a major:

#1. Interests and Passions

Spending years studying something you don’t like can be exhausting, regardless of how generally useful or practical the subject may be. It is also hard to stay motivated when you lack genuine interest and passion in the subject.

So, despite all the pressing questions about the profitability of your future career, it is never a smart choice to push yourself to commit the biggest portion of your time to a subject that doesn’t genuinely excite, inspire, or motivate you.

Moreover, if you ignore this factor when choosing a major, no matter how successful you become, you may still feel unfulfilled since you’re not doing what you love.

Therefore, it’s not an exaggeration to say that your interests and passions are the most critical factor in choosing a major. If you allow yourself to follow your natural inspiration while also staying flexible, you’ll surely be able to find a way to profit from your college major at some point.

#2. Strengths and Academic Performance

In most cases, our strengths align with our greatest passions and interests, and this is reflected in our academic performance, too.

However, if that’s not the case, and your passions and interests require you to develop or perfect specific abilities, then you may find yourself in a dilemma. You may wonder if you should go after what is easy for you or try a bit harder, hone the necessary skills, and study what you’re passionate about.

You’re likely to excel in what comes easily to you, but choosing what feels easy now may lead to less fulfilling or harder-to-navigate career paths in the long run.

#3. Career Opportunities and Salary Potential

Choosing the right major gets easier after thoroughly researching job demand and salary potential. Furthermore, when considering career opportunities and salary potential, it is crucial to understand your values. For example, think about these questions:

Some people need time to understand that who they work with makes them feel more fulfilled than how much they earn. Other personality types may value certain status and luxury more than anything else. You must have a solid understanding of your values before you can choose a major that reflects them.

#4. Job Market Trends

Making a decision about your major based on job market trends can backfire easily because a popular field today may be oversaturated by the time you graduate. So, check labor statistics and stay informed about emerging trends, but don’t allow them to take you off your desired path.

Despite the changing trends, today’s job market is also very flexible, and you may be surprised by the ways in which people manage to make their ‘unpopular’ degrees profitable.

For example, an art history graduate may excel in UX design, and a philosophy major may become an exceptional social media manager.

So, the point is, job market trends shouldn’t limit your choices.

#5. Flexibility and Transferable Skills

Certain majors direct you toward a very specific career path, while others teach you broad skills that you can apply in many different industries and roles. For example, critical thinking, data analysis, and communication skills are highly sought across many fields.

So, going for a major that brings flexibility in terms of skills it teaches you may give you more time to experiment and try different careers after you graduate to figure out what you really want for yourself. If you’re unsure about your long-term goals, that’s perfectly fine, and a flexible major like business administration, general STEM, or psychology will help you keep your options open.

#6. Education Requirements

You need to be aware that some professions require years of additional education before they actually become profitable and sustainable (medical careers, psychotherapy, law-related roles), while others allow you to land excellent roles with a bachelor’s degree. So, be honest with yourself about the time and money you’re ready to invest in studying.

Nevertheless, there’s no need to look at choosing a major as something that will forever define your life. Many people today decide to change their careers after years of successful work in a specific field, adapting to the changes in the job market, or following the passions they discovered along the way.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Major for Yourself

Though choosing a college major is an important decision, you shouldn’t look at it as a make-or-break choice that will forever lock you into a specific life and career path. Think of it more as a starting point that can make your path toward realizing your potential easier or harder.

However, if you’re set on becoming a doctor, lawyer, criminal defense attorney, engineer, or DevOps architect, your major isn’t optional; it’s a requirement. In other fields, like marketing, sales, and advertising, special skills and qualities are often more valued than what you studied.

So, while your college major can be a deciding factor in some fields, it can be optional in others. You’ll find plenty of examples of extremely successful people who never graduated and those who have graduated in one thing but achieved huge success in an unrelated field.

Essentially, your flexibility, creativity, and drive for success will most likely prevail, no matter what choice you make about your major. For example, think of Steve Jobs, who studied calligraphy, believe it or not. At first thought, one would say this has nothing to do with founding Apple.

However, we could draw a connection between his sense of aesthetics and premium design, his interest in calligraphy, and the success of his company.

How to Research Majors and Careers

Researching majors and careers should be based on real-world insights. You need to know your options before you fully commit, so here’s how to do thorough research:

#1. Explore Job Markets & Labor Market Trends

One of the best ways to get a well-rounded perspective on choosing a major is to explore career paths by major to see how your degree would translate to a real-world job. Focus on exploring the skills that are in high demand and then compare how your possible choices of majors relate to them.

Exploring professional networks and platforms like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will also give you a realistic insight into which industries are on the rise, salary ranges for different roles, and the most and the least sought-after jobs.

#2. Consult With a Career Counselor

Sometimes, when we’re excited about possibilities or overwhelmed with too many choices, we fail to see the most straightforward path to our dreams. Career counselors can help you connect your strengths, passions, and life goals with majors.

Seeking advice from professors you admire or professionals in the fields you’re interested in can also provide you with crucial insights needed for making the optimal choice.

#3. Test-Drive a Career

There are many ways you can have first-hand experience in jobs that you find attractive before making any serious commitment. For example, you can apply for internships and experience the day-to-day life of a professional in your field.

Volunteering is also a sustainable option that gives you all the key insights and experience. Plus, these kinds of engagements look great on your CV and allow you to build a resume even before your career actually launches.

 #4. Analyze Possible Career Paths

One of the ways to explore possible career paths is to take a look at resume examples for different careers. You can also review cover letter templates to get a sense of the expectations and challenges of the job search process related to your major. This insight may help you gauge whether a particular career path and the related college major align with your goals and preferences.

In addition, writing a student resume can also be a good exercise to help you prepare for your college studies, as it will give you a sense of what skills and experiences matter, helping you make the most of your college opportunities.

For inspiration and additional insight into the opportunities connected with specific college majors, you can download and explore cover letter examples and resume templates.

Still Not Sure About Your Major? 3 More Tips and Advice

It is okay if you’re still not sure about your major. For some, making such a decision is a multidimensional process, and for others, it comes in the form of a clear, swift insight. Regardless of how it comes to you, here are a few more tips that can help you make the right choice:

The Most In-Demand Majors and Careers

Job market trends shouldn’t influence your choice of college major too much, but you need to be informed on which professions and majors are in high demand. So, here are the most popular careers and related majors:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fastest-growing occupations are in the healthcare and tech industries. The expected growth rate of nurse practitioner jobs from 2024 to 2033 is a whopping 46%. Data scientists and information security analysts follow with a growth rate of 36%.

Should You Do a Double Major in College?

If you have the drive and are genuinely interested in two majors, doing a double major is a great choice. It can lead to broader career options, an improved sense of fulfillment, and intellectual satisfaction. Plus, it will look great on your resume!

However, you need to be aware that your workload will be heavier, and you’ll have less flexibility in your social life. Furthermore, if your majors don’t overlap, you might need extra semesters to graduate.

If you’re not sure about taking two majors, you can take a major and a minor or a single major with targeted internships. This will lead to similar results with the possibility of less stress.

Can You Design Your Own Major?

Yes, you can design your own major; many colleges support student-driven interdisciplinary approaches. This option is sometimes referred to as a self-designed or custom major, and it is ideal for students who have a very precise idea of what they want to learn or when traditional programs can’t meet students’ needs.

For example, if you’re interested in psychotherapy, you can design your major by blending neuroscience, counseling skills, cultural studies, and core psychology. This approach will give you a broad perspective needed for working with clients coming from different backgrounds while also preparing you better for specific grad school programs.

Final Thoughts

After you collect all the relevant information regarding choosing a major, take a break to distance yourself from the topic and reflect on your possibilities.

Taking a break is especially important if you are feeling overwhelmed by the potential consequences of your choices and pressured to make the right one.

Finally, remember that your college major shouldn’t reflect your fears but your desires. No matter how saturated the job market is, if you are passionate about your job, know how to create a good resume, and outline a job search strategy, you will achieve success!

Choosing a Major FAQ

#1. What is the #1 hardest major?

Chemical engineering, astrophysics, architecture, and neuroscience are usually considered the hardest majors because they involve heavy workloads and complex concepts.

#2. What major should I choose?

If you’re not sure what major you should choose after exploring your passions, interests, job demand, and salary potential, you can also consult with a professional career counselor or take a gap year to figure it out. For long-term personal satisfaction and success, prioritize major and career alignment to ensure your degree supports your goals.

#3. Can I change my major?

Yes, you can change your major, though this may depend on the educational institution that you have chosen. Most schools allow changes, but bear in mind that late switches may delay graduation.

#4. What should you do if you can’t decide on a major?

If you can’t decide on a major, you can start undeclared, take exploratory classes, try career assessments, volunteer, or take a gap year. It is essential that you keep an open mind and continue looking because there are a lot more ways to investigate your interests and make a decision.