Choosing a future career is not a small decision. There are many things to consider and it can all be rather confusing for those who are preparing to step into the big world business. With thousands of majors at your disposal, how to pick the one that you will be satisfied with 20 or 30 years down the road?! Although some have a very clear idea of what they want to do with their lives, many are unsure and are scared they will make a mistake.
It’s a lot of pressure to take but things don’t have to be so hard. In the text below, you will find the list of things you should consider when making this decision. Go through it carefully and figure out what your best options are.
What Are Your Strengths?
You are not new to the educational system and there are certain subjects you excelled at and you feel passionate about. Some of us are better at math while others have a knack for writing or painting. By understanding your skillset, you will be able to eliminate the areas that are simply not up to your alley.
However, it’s important to mention that you will acquire new knowledge during your studies and expand your abilities. So, be able to see a bigger picture. For example, if you’re good with numbers, you can go and become a financial analyst, a computer programmer, or an accountant. You can always have a meeting and talk with a career counselor that can help you with these sorts of decisions.
Will It Pay Off Financially?
This is an important factor for many when choosing a major, and that’s understandable. After all, we all want to find a career where we can prove ourselves as experts and that will allow us to have a comfortable life. No one wants to struggle! This is something that’s very important in the long run as you will presumably want to have a family one day and provide for them. So, make sure you get information about the average salaries in the sector you’re interested in and see how you feel about it.
How Much Will It Cost?
While we are on the subject of money, let’s mention another important point – majors can be costly and you need to take this into consideration as well. If you have your heart set on an area that is considered uncommon and is available in only a few private colleges, you will probably have to relocate and that’s expensive. You need to understand the financial burden that comes with this choice and what it means.
Those who are thinking about law or medicine will need significant financial backing and willpower to actually obtain these degrees. Working while studying might be an answer for some but balancing the two can also be quite draining and stressful.
Following Your Passion
To have a fulfilling career and to enjoy your future job for many years, it would be good to align your interests with the chosen subject. The learning process, when centered on something you’re passionate about, will be much easier. You will have no problems with motivation and committing to your goal and your college experience will be much more enjoyable.
As Steve Jobs said:
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
However, if you’re maybe not sure what you want to focus on and you have a broad palette of interests, don’t despair. There is an option to explore ideas and issues across humanities and the answer is liberal arts education that is highly regarded among employers. You will get to dive into the complexity of our world and develop a wide set of skills that will come in handy later in the career.
Take Your Time
There is no need to rush with your decision about the major. Actually, most schools recommend waiting a bit before you make a choice. A national survey conducted by UCLA showed that over 20% of students who had their major chosen upon entering university have changed their minds by the end of the first year. It’s important to give yourself time since this is a big life decision and try to find out what suits you the best.
These are some of the things you need to have in mind while choosing a major. Try to find something you are good at and feel passionate about.
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