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Any helpful ways to find out what major I'll choose?
Hi I'm a Junior in Highschool and I still don't know what major I want to take. Is there any quick and helpful ways to figure that out?
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James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
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James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Amy,
Discovering Your Passions and Skills
The first step towards deciding your major is to delve into your passions and skills. Reflect on the subjects that captivated you and where you excelled during high school. It's also worth considering career assessments that can shine a light on your strengths, weaknesses, and potential career trajectories. These assessments are readily available online or via your high school’s career counseling office.
Investigating Potential Careers
With a clearer understanding of your passions and skills, you can begin investigating potential careers. Examine aspects like job prospects, necessary education and skills, salary brackets, and work environments for various careers. This will guide you in identifying which majors could pave the way to careers that resonate with your aspirations and interests.
Exploring College Campuses
Exploring college campuses can be a beneficial step in selecting a major. Participate in college fairs, open houses, and information sessions to gain insights about the diverse majors and programs offered by different colleges. Engage in conversations with current students and faculty members to grasp the academic and social atmosphere of the college.
Experiencing General Education Courses
Enrolling in general education courses during your first college year can also assist you in settling on a major. These courses will introduce you to a range of subjects, helping you to explore various fields of study and uncover what truly piques your interest.
Seeking Guidance from a Career Counselor
Lastly, seeking advice from a career counselor can be an invaluable tool in selecting a major. They can offer direction on career assessments, investigating career options, and exploring different majors. Additionally, they can assist you in formulating a plan to reach your career aspirations.
Relevant Reference Materials
“Choosing a College Major” by the College Board
“How to Choose a Major” by the Princeton Review
“Finding Your College Major” by the University of California, Berkeley
May God bless you!
James Constantine.
Discovering Your Passions and Skills
The first step towards deciding your major is to delve into your passions and skills. Reflect on the subjects that captivated you and where you excelled during high school. It's also worth considering career assessments that can shine a light on your strengths, weaknesses, and potential career trajectories. These assessments are readily available online or via your high school’s career counseling office.
Investigating Potential Careers
With a clearer understanding of your passions and skills, you can begin investigating potential careers. Examine aspects like job prospects, necessary education and skills, salary brackets, and work environments for various careers. This will guide you in identifying which majors could pave the way to careers that resonate with your aspirations and interests.
Exploring College Campuses
Exploring college campuses can be a beneficial step in selecting a major. Participate in college fairs, open houses, and information sessions to gain insights about the diverse majors and programs offered by different colleges. Engage in conversations with current students and faculty members to grasp the academic and social atmosphere of the college.
Experiencing General Education Courses
Enrolling in general education courses during your first college year can also assist you in settling on a major. These courses will introduce you to a range of subjects, helping you to explore various fields of study and uncover what truly piques your interest.
Seeking Guidance from a Career Counselor
Lastly, seeking advice from a career counselor can be an invaluable tool in selecting a major. They can offer direction on career assessments, investigating career options, and exploring different majors. Additionally, they can assist you in formulating a plan to reach your career aspirations.
Relevant Reference Materials
“Choosing a College Major” by the College Board
“How to Choose a Major” by the Princeton Review
“Finding Your College Major” by the University of California, Berkeley
May God bless you!
James Constantine.
Thank you for giving me advice.
Amy
Updated
Jose’s Answer
Hello Amy
The quick and most helpful way to make that important decision is to identify your skillset. Please try to jot down your strengths and your weaknesses. Based on your strengths, try to match that to a career. Also, try to include your hobbies in something that you would like to do as a career and as a stable job. For example: If you like to read, then you may have some aptitude to be a lawyer. If you don't like math, then an engineering major could be something that you could major in, but it would be a lot more difficult than let's say getting a major in business or marketing. Identify your strengths, try to match them with a career you can major in, and always try to do something you will find fun.
We don't want you to become a corporate zombie who hates your job, we want you to be a fully fledge professional who has a stable work-life balance.
Plus, there is this site called "The Career Test" where you can do a test to see what majors they can recommend to you.
Have a nice one!
The quick and most helpful way to make that important decision is to identify your skillset. Please try to jot down your strengths and your weaknesses. Based on your strengths, try to match that to a career. Also, try to include your hobbies in something that you would like to do as a career and as a stable job. For example: If you like to read, then you may have some aptitude to be a lawyer. If you don't like math, then an engineering major could be something that you could major in, but it would be a lot more difficult than let's say getting a major in business or marketing. Identify your strengths, try to match them with a career you can major in, and always try to do something you will find fun.
We don't want you to become a corporate zombie who hates your job, we want you to be a fully fledge professional who has a stable work-life balance.
Plus, there is this site called "The Career Test" where you can do a test to see what majors they can recommend to you.
Have a nice one!
Thank you !
Amy
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. Many students have similar question. Firstly, you have to find out what careers you have interest. The relevant subjects will be the major and minor you can focus.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about what you interest, e.g. your hobbies, favourite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical artist, music composer, music producer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an engineer, banker, accountant, financial analyst, maths teacher, 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, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 career you have interest. The relevant are the careers you can focus.
5. Explore the college review on these subjects and find out the entry criteria
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about what you interest, e.g. your hobbies, favourite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical artist, music composer, music producer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an engineer, banker, accountant, financial analyst, maths teacher, 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, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 career you have interest. The relevant are the careers you can focus.
5. Explore the college review on these subjects and find out the entry criteria
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Thank you for the advice, Rebecca.
Amy
Updated
Mary’s Answer
I felt the same way when I first started college. There were too many things I wanted to do. So I did them all. I started out at a community college and got my AA in General Studies. I went through to see what classes counted towards a degree and took the ones that sounded the most interesting: Plant Science, Animal Health, Anthropology of the Native Californians, African American Jazz History, Psychology of Human Sexuality, plus all the other things I had to take like basic Math, English and so forth, as well as fun things I wanted to try like dance, photography, and writing.
Has any of it been useful in my career? Maybe not obviously, but it gave me a broader appreciation and understanding of the world at large. It also gave me a taste of many different industries, and, most importantly, it introduced me to people who work in those industries.
College provides you with two distinct opportunities. The most important opportunity, the one that is often not communicated, is that you get to meet people who work in a particular field. Your teachers are often part time teachers and full time whatever they're teaching. My father taught Auto Mechanics part time at the college, and worked full time as a mechanic for a Toyota dealership. You have a chance to talk to these professionals and get their insight about what it's like in their field and what it takes to get there.
The other opportunity college provides is to learn. You can never go wrong with learning.
Many students opt to do the first two years of college at a local community college because it's close to home and cheaper and then transfer to a four year university. The first two years are suppose to be general ed anyway. You can always do your general education close to home, and take a couple extra curricular classes to see what you like.
Get a catalogue from your nearest community college. Look through the classes. See what they offer. See what catches your eye. What sounds exciting. (If you're like me, it all sounds exciting. That's okay.) Circle the ones that sound exciting.
Check to see which classes count towards a degree. This can be confusing, there's a lot of code words and stuff that isn't necessarily direct. Get in touch with a counselor at the college.
Remember: breathe. You have time. You're doing great.
Has any of it been useful in my career? Maybe not obviously, but it gave me a broader appreciation and understanding of the world at large. It also gave me a taste of many different industries, and, most importantly, it introduced me to people who work in those industries.
College provides you with two distinct opportunities. The most important opportunity, the one that is often not communicated, is that you get to meet people who work in a particular field. Your teachers are often part time teachers and full time whatever they're teaching. My father taught Auto Mechanics part time at the college, and worked full time as a mechanic for a Toyota dealership. You have a chance to talk to these professionals and get their insight about what it's like in their field and what it takes to get there.
The other opportunity college provides is to learn. You can never go wrong with learning.
Many students opt to do the first two years of college at a local community college because it's close to home and cheaper and then transfer to a four year university. The first two years are suppose to be general ed anyway. You can always do your general education close to home, and take a couple extra curricular classes to see what you like.
Mary recommends the following next steps:
Thank you!
Amy
Updated
Olivet’s Answer
To discover the best major for you, start by considering which high school subjects you truly shine in and feel passionate about. Additionally, during your initial year at college, explore a variety of courses. This will help you identify which subjects captivate your interest, enabling you to choose the perfect major that fits you like a glove.
Thank you so much, Olivet!
Amy