3 answers
billie
Student
Baltimore, Maryland
1
Question
Asked
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how to know what to major in if nothing sounds interesting?
i have no idea what i want to do
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3 answers
Aditya Honnur
Summer Intern
2
Answers
London, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Aditya’s Answer
Hey there! You've asked a fantastic question that many folks heading into college often wonder about. My advice would be to consider attending a liberal arts school. This way, you can explore a wide range of academic subjects during your first year. The best part is, you only need to decide on your major at the end of that year. This gives you ample time to discover which subjects spark your interest and which ones don't quite hit the mark. By then, choosing a major should hopefully be a breeze!
Rebecca Tang
Banking
1860
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. Many students have similar question. It is not easy to determine the major. Firstly, you may find out what careers you have interest.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about your interest, e.g. your hobbies, favorite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you are interested in Music, would you like to be a musician, musical actor, singer, music producer, music composer, etc.
If you have interest in Maths, would you like to be an accountant, engineer, banker, maths teacher, financial analyst, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, parents, school career counsellor, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in the colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about your interest, e.g. your hobbies, favorite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you are interested in Music, would you like to be a musician, musical actor, singer, music producer, music composer, etc.
If you have interest in Maths, would you like to be an accountant, engineer, banker, maths teacher, financial analyst, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, parents, school career counsellor, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in the colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Julia Deal
Analyst
6
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Julia’s Answer
Hi Billie! When I was going into college, I felt a very similar way. It is completely normal to feel this way, and it is also completely normal to end up switching your major in college. However, I personally wanted to avoid having to make any switches, so I came up with three guidelines to direct myself in discovering what major would be the best fit for my lifestyle and career goals. These three guidelines were:
1. What do I naturally find myself interested in?
2. What careers in this field are high-paying?
3. What is offered by my university?
By following these guiding questions, I was able to narrow down my choices for careers I would like to follow. Once I had three solid options, I then researched the best majors and overall educational path for each individual career I was interested in. Based on the majors my university offered, I then made my top selection for which career I would like to pursue and enrolled within that specific major.
To give you an example of my search, I knew I enjoyed working with technology and I was always naturally tech-savvy. I also love working with people and I am a strong communicator. With this knowledge, I then did a search of well-paid careers within technology, keeping in mind that I would enjoy working with other people. Once I found my top three career choices, I was able to match these careers with majors offered by my university.
I ended up becoming an Information Communication and Technology major, where I have been able to take a variety of both communications and technology courses. I have been fortunate enough to not have to switch my major, and I will be graduating this spring! It is easy to feel overwhelmed with this process, but staying organized, determined, and curious will lead you to success. Trust your gut and utilize all of the resources available to you. Everything will be ok! Best of luck to you in all that you do.
Make a list of things you are naturally good at/enjoy
Research careers (high-paying, if you'd like) that involve those skills
Make a list of careers that stand out to you
Research what majors/programs are best for entering those careers
Look to see what majors/programs your university offers that relate to your findings
1. What do I naturally find myself interested in?
2. What careers in this field are high-paying?
3. What is offered by my university?
By following these guiding questions, I was able to narrow down my choices for careers I would like to follow. Once I had three solid options, I then researched the best majors and overall educational path for each individual career I was interested in. Based on the majors my university offered, I then made my top selection for which career I would like to pursue and enrolled within that specific major.
To give you an example of my search, I knew I enjoyed working with technology and I was always naturally tech-savvy. I also love working with people and I am a strong communicator. With this knowledge, I then did a search of well-paid careers within technology, keeping in mind that I would enjoy working with other people. Once I found my top three career choices, I was able to match these careers with majors offered by my university.
I ended up becoming an Information Communication and Technology major, where I have been able to take a variety of both communications and technology courses. I have been fortunate enough to not have to switch my major, and I will be graduating this spring! It is easy to feel overwhelmed with this process, but staying organized, determined, and curious will lead you to success. Trust your gut and utilize all of the resources available to you. Everything will be ok! Best of luck to you in all that you do.
Julia recommends the following next steps: