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7 Reasons You Should Choose Your Major

Deciding on a college major is the source of many students’ stress. There is a lot of pressure to know exactly what you want early on your high school days, but in reality, many students take a lot longer to decide what degree to pursue. With the amount of information students are bombarded with daily, it’s easy to let yourself be influenced by external sources who don’t always know you that well. Here are some good ways to decide on what major is the best fit for you...

Sep 14, 2021
  • Student Tips
7 Reasons You Should Choose Your Major

Genuine passion

To this day, there is still a mentality that your work is not your hobby -- you’re not meant to enjoy it; you’re meant to get money from it. This leads many people to prioritize earnings over job satisfaction and overall happiness. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Whatever career you end up choosing will be stressful at times, but when you work with something you’re passionate about, that makes everything less difficult. Remember that choosing a major means spending three or four years (or more) in university studying the subject and possibly a lifetime of work ahead of you. So, as far as possible, choose to do something that genuinely moves you and that won’t make you feel frustrated in the future.

Personal value

Don’t put your personal beliefs aside when deciding on your career path. Seeing the value in what you do is a fundamental part of achieving greater life satisfaction later on. Like studying a subject you're passionate about, you can pursue a career that aligns with what you believe will make a good impact on the world around you. Finding value in your work doesn’t necessarily mean pursuing a degree that will help you change the world. Whether you pick a major that will allow you to create solutions to climate change or make life better for the community you’re from, seeing the value in what you do will encourage you to achieve great things with time.

Abilities

College will be a challenging journey regardless of the major you choose. But choosing an area you’re already good at will undoubtedly make your life easier. Knowing your skills and what comes easily to you is a great way to find a major that best suits you. If you’re good with mathematics, for example, perhaps a major in the field of the exact sciences will be a better fit for you than a major in philosophy. But don’t let your skills in a particular area -- or the lack of them -- stop you from getting the degree of your dreams. There is nothing you don’t know that can’t be learned, and a university is a place meant to build up your education, after all. Even if you’re not a prodigy in a specific area yet, you can learn everything you need to know with the proper dedication.

Career prospects

Choosing a major you’re passionate about is essential, but so is knowing what benefits your major can bring you in the future. It’s no secret that some degrees have more market value than others. While that shouldn’t stop you from finding a career that you love, you should be aware of what kind of job opportunities will be available to you once you’ve graduated and how you can position yourself in your degree for a career. Going out to university job fairs, looking for internships, and talking to people in your future field(s) of work are great ways of preparing yourself for the job market. Finding a major that fulfills your passions as well as your income needs is definitely possible, and it will make you much more satisfied with your life.

Location

Your major isn’t the only big decision you’ll need to make. Deciding on what institution to attend is just as important and takes just as much research. When choosing the ideal college for you, there are many factors to consider: how well will the university’s infrastructure serve your needs, how valuable is a degree from that specific institute, how much is the living cost for students, and many others. Looking at universities online and reaching out to current and former students who can tell you more about college life are great steps to making a fully informed decision. And, whenever possible, visiting the campus you’re interested in before applying is the best way of knowing exactly what that college has to offer you.

Incentives

Going to college can be expensive business. Luckily, each year more universities are providing a financial incentive to students pursuing all kinds of majors. While you’re looking for information about the universities on your list, make sure to look at the financial aid page and check if you qualify for any scholarships, fellowships, or any tuition waiver programs. Paying for your degree is a primary concern for most students, so receiving a funding package from your university is a great benefit and can be a deciding factor for many. If you still have questions about what opportunities a certain college can offer you, don’t hesitate to email their admissions office or the department responsible for your major. They can inform you about their financial aid programs and what requirements students need to fulfill to be eligible.

Interest

Some people find it hard to see their interests as potential careers, but talking to your friends or a career advisor can be a great help in figuring out the right path for you. Like with passion, bear in mind that you will spend years of your life dedicating yourself to the area you choose, so make sure to choose something you’re interested in learning more about. Being uninterested in your university classes is one of the main signs you might have chosen the wrong major. So, a good start is to think about what classes you enjoyed most in school and what degrees will offer you degrees in the same area. Degrees will typically allow you to go into more depth for your chosen field of study. Being interested in your classes means getting better results from your time in college, engaging more with your subject, and connecting more with people in your field. All these factors can eventually open doors for you when you finish your degree.

Make the best decision for you

Many students struggle with choosing a major because of the amount of pressure that surrounds this decision. There are many factors to consider, and your final decision can end up changing the course of your life. But even though it’s an important step, you shouldn’t fear the process of choosing your degree. There are excellent resources online that provide you with valuable information that can help you decide on a program.

Knowing exactly why you chose your major can help you have a clearer vision for your future, which can, in turn, help you advance your career. But if you still don’t know what path to follow, there’s no problem with that. You can choose a major with general benefits that can help you in different careers or explore your options by pursuing a double major. In any case, if you know your goals, you will have no difficulty in deciding what degree is the best fit for you.

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Thaís Roberto

Author

Thaís graduated with a degree in Language and Literature and is now pursuing her master's while working as an English teacher and freelance writer. She lives in an inland city in São Paulo, Brazil, and enjoys binge-watching TV, game nights with her friends, and learning how to play any musical instrument within reach

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