Choosing a Major

We know choosing a major can be a daunting task, so we encourage you to take the time to explore and contemplate your options using the many resources available to you.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average college graduate changes jobs once every three years and changes career fields two or three times in their lifetime. Choosing a college major does NOT lock you into a career for the rest of your life. Nonetheless, choosing a major is an important decision. You’re about to invest several years of your life studying a subject in great detail. You will be more successful in your major if you are truly interested in it. Your major may also help direct you towards certain internships and job experiences.

Strategies for Choosing Your Major

Get to know yourself

  1. Take the Strong Interest Inventory (first-year students) or the FOCUS 2
  2. Ponder these questions:
    1. What do you like to do? Not what do your friends or family want you to be.
    2. What do you do well?
    3. What excites you?
    4. What environments do you enjoy?
    5. What is important to you in life?
    6. What were some critical experiences in your life? Were you solving a problem, helping others, or completing a project?
  3. Take some time to adjust to college. You do not need to select your major in your first year

Research & Network

  1. Read the course catalog and syllabi in different majors
  2. Talk with students who are majoring in certain disciplines about their experiences and goals
  3. Contact the Office of Academic Advising
  4. Connect with mentors in the mentor database who have pursued different majors/fields of work

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