Choosing A Major

Whether you’re a junior starting the college search process, a senior filling out applications for admission, or already a college student, chances are you’ve had plenty of people ask you, “What are you majoring in?” If you already have a good idea of the type of career you’re looking for, this question is probably easy to answer. However, if you have no idea what you want to do, this question can be supremely stressful. Lots of students feel pressured to choose a major as a high school junior or senior, and they worry that they have to stick with that major in college, even if it doesn’t turn out to be a good fit.

If you are still questioning your major, you’re in good company! 30-50 percent of students come into college still deciding on a major, and close to 80 percent of college students change their major at least once. So much changes as you transition from high school to college, and it’s only natural that your interests and career aspirations will change too. Don’t feel stressed if you don’t know what you want to study, or if you change your mind! As a high school student, I thought I knew what I wanted to do, but I wound up changing my mind right before freshman orientation, and wound up going into college undecided. I picked a major in the first semester of my sophomore year, and I still managed to graduate in four years.

There are lots of different tools that you can use to explore potential careers and college majors. Check out actprofile.org to fill out a career interest inventory online -- it only takes about fifteen minutes! Job shadowing and volunteering are also great opportunities to see if a career is a good fit for you. Check out the Iowa Intermediary Network for more information about job shadowing, and volunteeriowa.org for volunteer options near you!

If you’re currently in college, develop a good relationship with your academic advisor. They can help you figure out what classes might correspond with your interests, and they might have good recommendations of activities on campus that can help you learn more about different majors.

Talking to your family and friends can also be an easy way to learn more about different careers or college majors. Ask your relatives and friends what they like about their jobs and what their career path has looked like -- everyone’s story is different.

It can seem stressful to not know what you want to major in or what career interests you, but relax! You have plenty of time to explore and learn more about different opportunities. Explore your options with ACT Profile, job shadowing, and volunteering, and spend time talking to your friends, family, and academic advisors -- you’ll find the right fit in no time!

Susan - ICAN Coralville Center