When do i need to decide on a major

If you found this article because you are stressing out about what your college major will be, but you are only still in the 5th grade, relax. Even if you are entering university, most schools and their advisors recommend that you wait before declaring a major. In the U. Consider taking a semester off to find yourself, or perhaps even a gap year sabbatical, traveling around the world or working full time.

This can really put things in perspective for you. Spell check? Start building professional resume template here for free. Choosing a major is ultimately your decision to make. Who better to help you decide how to choose a major than the college advisors whose main job it is to do so? Meeting with the university advisor will offer you more in return than just advice on which major is right for you - with their intimate knowledge of the specific university and campus, they can curate just the right course of study for each student.

Many universities and high schools, even have career counselors on top of their academic advisors. Meeting with these career advisors might be helpful, as they can give you a long-term view of how a particular major or degree will translate to a career down the road.

Scholastic Semantics: A major is the field which a student focus specializes during the course of their studies. A minor is a secondary field or concentration that often complements the major, but is different than a double major. Your friends and peers are often a source of great inspiration and ideas. You must do what you want to do, rather than worry that it bothers them. Will you work to make ends meet during your university studies? Imagine the perfect major at your university, complete with tuition and dormitory reimbursement, fun and rewarding studies, and your future life partner sitting beside you.

The disadvantage? Yes, every major that you choose will ultimately have some downsides and disadvantages. The only thing you can do is to be aware of them and to make sure that you can handle when they decide to pop up. If likely to switch, how rigid are the prerequisites? For your undergraduate studies, avoid choosing a major which is too specialized. Your career prospects and job outlook would remain all too narrow. How connected is my chosen university?

You want to pick a major in a college that is well-connected to local contacts in your chosen field for that real-world experience. Any college too rural or too small may leave you at a disadvantage upon your graduation.

How will I be affected after I finish the program? Make sure that you understand the costs, the future job market, and the locations you may have to relocate to advance your career. As with relationships and the latest billboard hits, you may decide that the major you chose is not right for you anymore.

One quick thing to mention before we end - the reality check. Before pulling the trigger on the major of your choice, ask yourself:. Be real with yourself. But no matter when you choose your major, and how often you switch it, be sure to question your decision with these questions first. Here are some carefully curated resources to read after finishing this article. These will give you a better idea how to choose the best major that is right for you:.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:. See more cover letter templates and start writing. Students study topics such as how the legal system works and the nature of criminal behavior. Examples of majors include corrections, criminology, and criminal justice.

Students planning to continue on to graduate school with the goal of becoming a practicing lawyer typically major in prelaw studies. Other career opportunities for criminal justice majors include those within law enforcement agencies and within the corrections system. Graduates may also seek work as a paralegal, social worker, or rights advocate. Education and teaching majors provide a pathway to becoming a K teacher, as well as specializing in other areas, such as special education or early childhood education.

Those seeking teaching degrees often choose to specialize in a particular content area, such as math or history. Majors in this field include elementary education, special education, administration, and library sciences.

Future career paths include a classroom teacher to a special education diagnostician. An education degree can lead to work as a principal, administrator, librarian, or counselor. The liberal arts and humanities cover several different topics. The humanities include literature, theater, film, music, and journalism. Liberal arts encompasses the fields of social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics. Some majors in the liberal arts and humanities umbrella include psychology, philosophy, English, anthropology, political science, and history.

Other majors include math and science degrees such as astrophysics or differential equations. Career opportunities for liberal arts majors vary widely, with psychologist, marine biologist, marketing consultant, or screenwriter among the many possibilities.

The earlier students decide on a major, the sooner they can begin the coursework necessary to earn their degree. To help, students should factor their future career paths into their decision. When choosing a career path, students should consider the cost of their degrees and how much they can expect to earn when they enter their chosen profession. The future job market for a given occupation can impact the type of opportunities in the field available to new grads, as well as how much they can earn.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS provides a great starting point for completing this preliminary research, which features a trove of wage data categorized by occupation and geographic area. The BLS also projects demand for specific occupations over the next 10 years.

The more demand for a specific occupation, the more opportunities graduates will encounter when they enter the field. Some careers, such as becoming a teacher, may require additional licensing or certifications, so students should remember to factor these considerations into their overall education budget and timeline. Deciding on a specific major before choosing a school gives incoming students the chance to shop colleges based on the programs they offer.

When evaluating schools, applicants should research faculty, research opportunities, internships, and campus groups to see which programs stand out.

This offers students a sneak peek into what to expect when attending the institution. When pursuing a degree, especially online, students should make sure they attend an accredited institution. Accredited colleges receive the mark of approval by independent accreditation agencies. Diplomas from accredited colleges carry more distinction than those from non-accredited schools. Students should avoid non-accredited schools, as the degree programs may not be sufficient to meet the minimum education standards to enter a particular job field.

Students with multiple interests do not need to narrow down their selection to a single major right away. In fact, there are several pathways for students to follow and explore different fields of study during their collegiate careers.

For example, one could double major or major with a minor. Students could also pursue a single major with a minor. A minor is a secondary concentration of study that requires less coursework to obtain than a full major. Lastly, you should speak with your advisor to get their input on important classes to include in your curriculum. You can also speak to other students who created their own majors to learn about the pros and cons of this decision. Some examples of student-created majors include music and technology, public education history, and psychology of marketing.

It depends on the school. Some students enter their first year with a declared major, while others can wait until their junior year. Individual departments may set their own rules, so make sure you ask. If you can't decide on a major, you have several options.

Taking classes from different disciplines can help narrow your choices, as can meeting with your academic advisor to review the pros and cons of the options you're considering.

Yes, you can always change your major. That said, if you complete a significant number of classes related to one major and then switch to another, you may need to stay in school longer to meet the credit requirements of your new major. Definitely not. Colleges want students to think carefully about their decisions and not rush into any major if they're unsure. View the most relevant school for your interests and compare them by tuition, programs, acceptance rate, and other factors important to find your college home.

Share on Social. What Are Your Biggest Priorities? What Are You Good At? How Rigorous Will the Coursework Be? Should You Double Major in College? Some college majors are more popular than others due to their high earning potential and strong job prospects. Learn what the top 10 majors are in this guide. Choosing a college major is a decision many students agonize over. Here, recent grads offer new students advice they wish they'd heard earlier.

Many students flock to just a handful of popular majors, leading to crowded fields. A well-chosen major and minor can give you a competitive edge for jobs.