How to Choose the Best College Major For You

One of the biggest hurdles in college is picking a major that will help you to find both a lucrative and enjoyable career. Whether you're a young adult just out of high school or an experienced professional embarking on a new path, attending college for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience for this precise reason. Use the tips in this guide to help you figure out which college major is best for you.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Think about what you most enjoy doing. Whatever field you choose, it should be something that you'd be willing to work in for the rest of your life. Write down a list of what hobbies and interests you like most.

2. Figure out what you're good at. While you may love art, if the most you can draw is a stick figure, you might think twice about declaring it your major (although Art History is always a possibility). If you believe yourself to be the sort of person who doesn't particularly excel at any one thing, then try to figure out if there are any skills you'd be willing to work to improve.

3. Be honest with yourself about how much money you want to make. If you can't imagine living on less than $100,000 a year, then majoring in Elementary Education might not be the best choice. On the other hand, if you're perfectly comfortable with the idea of living off of $30,000 a year, there's no need to pick a lucrative major like Financing unless you want to.

4. Research, research, research. It's important to find out what sort of jobs are available in the field of your choosing, as well as how much they pay. You also need to know what will be expected of you as a student in your field, as well as how much tuition is going to cost. All of these are extremely important factors in picking your major.

5. Decide whether or not you need college to help you be successful. Many students end up graduating college, only to find themselves working low-paying jobs whilst struggling to pay off thousands of dollars of college debt. A number of fields (i.e. art, music, dance, literature, etc) do not require you to have a college diploma in order to be successful in them. Furthermore, many people skip college and either work as an apprentice or attend a vocational school, only to end up making more money a year than the average American household.

6. Take a certified career assessment test. These sorts of tests will measure your skills and values and provide advice on what sort of job field would fit your personality best. While you don't necessarily have work in the field the test recommends, it can serve as a guide to help you make your choice.

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to people who work in the job fields you have an interest in. This will let you know what to expect.
• Don't let anyone convince you that you're not capable of following your dreams. If you've thoroughly researched your major and are sure it's right for you, then go for it.

[velosity]

on 7/9/2009 Great article with great tips. I will pass this helpful information on to my daughter!