Five Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing a Major
Many potential factors go into determining the best majors for undecided students. Learners should consider their education and career goals. Most careers require corresponding degrees and credentials. Prospective learners should also consider their skills and talents.
What Were My Academic Strengths in High School?
Prospective students should consider where they excelled in high school. Students who earned high grades in English may want to major in communications or education. Those with strong quantitative skills may choose a science or engineering major.
Some students choose majors related to their favorite extracurriculars. Athletes may major in sports management or sports medicine. Creative students may pursue art-related majors.
What Career Fields Interest Me?
Many students enroll in college to prepare for a career. Learners who know what field they want to work in should choose a major that builds skills for that career area. Aspiring medical professionals may want to major in biology or chemistry. Aspiring management professionals may choose to major in business.
What Industries Are Growing, and What Majors Can Lead to Careers in Those Industries?
Which Majors Maximize My Return on Investment and Earning Potential?
Do I Want to Go to Grad School?
Aspiring graduate school students may choose a general undergraduate major. A general major provides foundational skills rather than specialized, technical training. These learners should choose an undergraduate major that builds skills relevant to the kind of graduate education they seek.
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1. Communication
Whether you like to read, write or talk, communication can grow your skill set and broaden your horizons. If you pursue this major, you’ll likely study everything from social media to advertising and film. Ultimately, you’ll choose a career path based on your interests. Become an event planner, broadcast journalist, screenwriter, public relations specialist and more under the communication umbrella.
If English is your first language, consider making it your major. While you may be the brunt of a few jokes, English is more challenging than your friends and family might think. From studying the history of the written word to editing and proofreading long-form articles, there’s a wide variety of coursework within the major. Upon graduating, you could become a teacher, novelist, journalist, copy editor, or publicist, among other things.
Education Major
What it offers:
If you start out taking one introductory class, then you will learn if teaching is the best career path. If not, you can still major in education. However, you won’t need teaching credentials unless you want them. Instead you can enjoy a career in business, counseling, or policymaking. The point is that an education major opens doors to many different careers.
Since education is a humanities major, plan on taking English, literature, and sociology classes. Additionally, if you plan to teach a subject to high school students, you should take classes in the interest area. For example, an aspiring high school biology teacher takes biology and other science courses in college.
Public Policy Major
What it offers:
During your schooling, you take classes, complete projects, and participate in internships or field trips. You can travel to Washington, DC and advocate for policies that are important to you. You can also volunteer your efforts locally.
Your electives can reflect your career goals. Additionally, you can earn a concentration in a focus area that interests you. Popular public policy concentrations include bioethics, education, and health policy.
Remember to Take Your Time
However, begin thinking about what interests you. While one major may lead to money, another major may bring more personal satisfaction. The point is that you don’t need to decide now or even during the first two years of college. In the meantime, take intro classes and find out more about yourself before choosing a major.
Source:
https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/choosing-a-major/
https://classrooms.com/8-best-majors-for-undecided-students/
https://www.bestdegreeprograms.org/degrees/top-10-best-majors-for-indecisive-students/
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