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Should I choose a major(s) based on what career I want to pursue, or choose a career based on the major(s) that interest me?

I am still unsure about future career paths and declaring majors and am in need of some guidance. #college #college-major #career-counseling #career-choice #higher-education #college-majors #undecided

college-major career-counseling higher-education undecided college-majors
Thank you comment icon Hi this is syeda, i can understand your situation. I believe that one should choose a career based on the major that interests one the most. :) Syeda
Thank you comment icon Hello James! I'm sure a lot of us can relate to feeling pressured and lost when it comes to choosing a career path. But try not to stress yourself out too much okay? You're young, it's normal and okay not to have your whole figured out. Just keep an open mind and continue to ask career specific advice from professionals on Career Village. Mireia
Thank you comment icon One thing I can say about your question is that there are some majors which have many flexible career outcomes like biology. On the other hand, there are some jobs that require specific majors or certifications, etc. So it really just depends on the career path you choose. In addition, I have met some people who have loved their major and disliked their job and vice versa. So it's important to find that sweet spot where you enjoy studying for your major AND pursuing the career that is applied to it. Mireia
Thank you comment icon In order to start sparking your interest in different majors, join clubs and ask around! Your friends, cousins, neighbors! You may find out about a job that you didn't know about and will make you say,"I can really do that for a living?" You can also explore online and take quizzes that let you know about careers that fit your majors. From there, I would suggest finding shadow or internship opportunities because not only are they great resume builders, but they also allow you to see the tasks you would be performing on a day to day basis under the guidance of a professional. Mireia
Thank you comment icon Remember that it's totally okay if you decide to change your mind. It's actually better to do so earlier on so you're not chained to a job you don't love waking up to do. I hope this helps and I wish you the best in your major and career choosing! Mireia
Thank you comment icon Yeah exploring different majors will also help you decide where you wanna go and you can change your major anytime. I also went theough this stage, its pretty normal for every student. Also notice that in what subjects you are good, identify your strengths and weakness, and see what males you happy. What you want to do as a profession?, are u a better listener or advicer? Hope this helps. Good luck Syeda
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Jason’s Answer

Good Afternoon James,


My name is Jason, and I work at Google in University Programs, and previously in career services at Stony Brook University. There is no one way to decide on a career, and you could look at it from both angles.


Should I choose a major based on the careers I want to pursue? Some basic questions to consider: What can I see myself doing for a while? What steps can I take to get there? What majors make the most sense? (e.g. Software Engineer, internships/research/hackathons, computer science/computer engineering)


Should I choose a career based on my major? Basic questions: What majors am I interested in? From these majors, what career options can they ultimately culminate in? Which career do I most see myself as? (Psychology/Pre-med, Psychiatrist/Therapist/Social Worker/Counselor)


Looking at your question from both angles can help you find out what to major in AND what career you want to go for. Even if your school does not offer a certain major, each career has a certain umbrella of majors that fit the bill. For instance, if Finance interests you, you can study Business/Finance, but Mathematics and Statistics also fit under that. There are many paths to various careers, it all depends on what you are interested in. Conducting both online research, and connecting with peers and professionals who share your interests can help you on this path to self-discovery. Use your career services at school and spend some time poking around online, and taking notes!


That being said, pursuing a major is just one one of the things to think about when thinking about a career. There are things like internships and networking that go a long way (especially internships). You can learn all you want in a classroom, but having experience in real world applications will make you a stronger candidate when you are looking for that first post-college job. This was very true for me pursuing a double major in business and psychology because in the classroom, I learned a lot about many different facets of both disciplines, but working in a specific field of my interest helped me understand what was required of me to know/do and later focused my path to where I am today.


Hope that helped, and please let me know if you have other questions!
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Rahul’s Answer

Choose career based on what interests you.


Also, keep in mind, your interest will change as you learn new things. It's important to be focused on whatever you choose. At the end of the day, you have got to be able to feed yourself and your family....depending upon your situation.


;-)
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Alexis’s Answer

I will answer your question with another question: why don't you think you have to choose between the career you pursue and what interests you?


Your career should be something you enjoy. That's the goal anyway: if you find a job that you love, you'll never work a day in your life. Can't remember who said that.


If you're deciding between poetry and medicine, there is no magic ball to tell you that you'll one day be a Pulitzer Prize winning poet.


Even if you do all the research in the world about each major and the possible career paths available, you still won't know what the future holds.


I'm almost 40 and I still don't know how pursuing the major that interested me is going to pan out. Others are more fortunate and are reaping the rewards of their choice immediately.


I say, don't think that this decision will irrevocably chart the course of your entire life. Just because you're pre-med doesn't mean you won't one day be a novelist. Just because you major in art history doesn't mean you won't become a lawyer.


Four years is a long time to study something just because you think it'll be good for you career wise.


You gotta love it. You have to be excited about it. You have to want to meet people who share your interest. College can be lots of fun, in and out of the classroom.

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Kevin’s Answer

if you know what career you are interested then make your decision based on that

a major (college) is 4 years, your career can be a life's work

you may want to ask your self if a major interest you, is that a career that would interest you

I keep saying in my answers that aptitude test are a good way to determine your core interest
and potentially what the best career for you is

you are going to have to work a lot of hours so you should put the time in now to determine
what job would give you personal satisfaction/fulfillment
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Rachel’s Answer

<span style="background-color: transparent;">Collegeboard.org is a great resource for this! I poured through the pages of universities all over the U.S. when I was a senior in high school. Collegeboard was my go-to site! They put all of the information in one place and it is very easy to use. They even have various filters you can apply to see only colleges that have programs you are interested. To determine academic rigor, look at the admissions requirements, G.P.A. of past admitted applicants, SAT/ACT scores, class rank etc. This will give you an idea of what scores and grades you need to be accepted. However, don't be discouraged your application will be reviewed based on the full picture! College-board will help you get an idea of what is most important to the specific school you are applying to.</span>


This professional recommends the following next steps:

  • <span style="background-color: transparent;">Chat with your Guidance Counselor</span>
  • <span style="background-color: transparent;">Create a Collegeboard.org account</span>
  • <span style="background-color: transparent;">Start using CollegeBoard as a resource to look up schools.</span>
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Simeon’s Answer

Try and make sure that you have a plan to pursue a career you're interested in, but have a safer career as a backup. You can cover this with major/minor or by choosing a path that has more broadly applicable skills. Often, you will have to be underpaid/unpaid to break into an opportunity for the career of your dreams. Also, you'll sometimes have to deal with life events like moving cities or starting a family. You'll want to make sure you are flexible.
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Rachel’s Answer

There are so many differnet majors to choose from , it does get tough. But choose based on what you love and decide on what you're interested in that also applies to a school & career you'll enjoy. Collegeboard.org is a great resource for this! I poured through the pages of universities all over the U.S. when I was a senior in high school. Collegeboard was my go-to site! They put all of the information in one place and it is very easy to use. They even have various filters you can apply to see only colleges that have programs you are interested. To determine academic rigor, look at the admissions requirements, G.P.A. of past admitted applicants, SAT/ACT scores, class rank etc. This will give you an idea of what scores and grades you need to be accepted. However, don't be discouraged your application will be reviewed based on the full picture! College-board will help you get an idea of what is most important to the specific school you are applying to
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Stephanie’s Answer

James, many students change their major during their time at college. Hopefully it is the first year when that happens. It is helpful if you choose an area that you enjoy, have an aptitude for and is needed in the workforce.

Did you try an aptitude test?

Community colleges have them and sometimes high school. Ask your advisor at school.
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Jason Aaron’s Answer

When deciding on a career or major, I would definitely choose the career based on the major that interest you the most, and not for the career you want to pursue. But in all honesty, there is no right answer for this. The best answer is to choose the career or major that you feel more comfortable doing for a long time and that will make you feel more fulfilled. I switched my major many times. I wanted to pursue a career in Computer programming, that is why I majored in Computer Science from my Freshman year all the way to middle of my Junior year. I knew I would make good money and get to work with computer for the rest of my life. However, I realized that I enjoyed working WITH people and interacting with others opposed to being in a computer lab all day. So I changed my major to Marketing and Christian Ministries. I was able to change my career to a subject that interested me the most and made me more comfortable. 14+ years later and I am happy I made that decision. And if you change your mind later on that is okay too. I am currently in Graduate school to become a Special Education teacher. I wanted to still work with others and make a solid impact on the lives of my community. Do I wish I became a teacher sooner? Not really, because I see that my career in Business management and Customer Service, helped prepare me to become a teacher.

Again, when choosing a major, it is okay to pursue a career that you want. However, at the end of the day, that career will be something you do every day, so I must be something you can enjoy doing, otherwise you will feel like a hamster in a wheel.
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