College Fears Debunked: The Right Major

Going to college for the first time can feel like you’re stepping into the unknown. Whether you’re dreading it or you can’t wait for this experience, you may still be feeling nervous.

So instead of fretting, let’s talk about these fears. No matter what, you should know that going to college is not as scary as you think it will be. In this post of our College Fears Debunked series, we’re diving into the three biggest “what ifs” about choosing your major and why you’ll be just fine.

“What if I don’t know what I’m doing?”

You can connect with career coaches or advisors who are trained to help you explore your interests, strengths, and future career possibilities.

The good news is, you’re not the only one confused! Although, a lot of the time it can feel that way. Feeling lost and confused when it comes to picking your major and grasping the idea of your future career is entirely normal. Even those who come into their first year with a chosen major still might feel unsure.

Uncertainty can actually be useful! Not having a set-in-stone path gives you room to discover your interests, and by taking gen-ed classes and courses a little out of your comfort zone, you might find yourself narrowing in on what you actually like to do—and that might be totally different from your original plan. 

This process of discovering your interests takes time, and as you grow as a person through your time in college, you might realize that the interests you had as a senior in high school are very different from your interests as a college student. But first of all, let’s take a look at how to go about picking the right major:

• It’s important to remember that you don’t have to have a major right away. You can be “undecided” until, generally, your sophomore year. 
• Initially, a lot of people go off of what their interests are, and decide a major that aligns with those interests. There’s nothing wrong with that! Eventually you’ll be able to narrow down or even adapt your interests to a potentially new major or you might even want to stick with what you started out with!
• Talk with your advisor, a huge recourse for you in this process. They will be able to help put you in the classes that will interest you and push you out of your comfort zone into other areas that you might enjoy. And if you are undecided as a major, they are able to help you with that too!
• Visit the career center to learn more about future opportunities that connect with your major. You can connect with career coaches or advisors who are trained to help you explore your interests, strengths, and future career possibilities. Sometimes, taking a strengths or career assessment can be a great way to learn more about what motivates you and how that connects to different majors or fields of study.
• From here, take a mixture of classes to see what feels right. Pay attention to what classes you enjoy working hard in, that’s a big clue to what you’re passionate about.  
• Exploration also happens beyond the classroom. You might discover new interests through internships, a short-term job shadowing experience, or a research or service-learning project that connects what you’re learning to the real world. 
• Talking with alumni can also give you a glimpse into how graduates from different majors have built meaningful and varied careers. 

Each of these experiences can help you test out ideas, build confidence, and imagine where your education might take you next.

“What if I picked the wrong major?”

The idea that you are picking your major and your lifelong path can feel terrifying, but it’s just not true. Your first major doesn’t have to be your locked-in answer, and it certainly isn’t a lifelong contract. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• The majority of students change their major at least once during their time in college, and others might even change twice or three times before graduation. That’s perfectly normal! What you choose now is simply a starting point, and as you explore and grow as a person your interests might form into something else. Your major is not a permanent label. 
• You might not end up in a career that perfectly matches your major. After college it’s entirely possible that your job will be a little outside of your field of study, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In this world of expanding technology and changing communication styles, your future job might not even exist, yet. 
• Employers care more about the skills you gain, like problem-solving and communication skills, than the exact label on your diploma. Review a report on this topic on the National Association of Colleges and Employers website. 

“What if I change my mind?”

Your current major isn’t the one? No big deal. Now, there are some cases where drastically changing your major later in your time at college can be a bit of a setback, but it’s important to remember that changing your major doesn’t have to throw your whole college plan off track. It just takes a little strategy. 

• To change your major, start by talking with your academic advisor. They will detail what this change will look like for you, and help you come up with a plan for which credits you will need, and which ones might still count towards your major. A lot of gen-eds overlap between majors, so if you’re changing your mind later than your first year, you might have already taken some basic requirements for your college, not just your
  major. 
• Then, on your own, map out the classes you need to take each semester to stay on pace for graduation, especially paying attention to what prerequisites you’ll need to take for other courses. It might also benefit you to start looking at internship opportunities or other ways to become more comfortable with your new major.
• If switching your major means adding a semester or two, it’s not the end of the world. That extra time spent learning something you actually enjoy is usually worth it.

Remember, it’s OK if you have to change your mind. Especially if you are undecided, taking some time to grow as a person and learn more about yourself is the best way to discover what major is right for you.

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