Defining a major is a crucial step in the university process since it impacts your future career path. However, according to the Best Colleges 2020 report, up to 3 out of 5 graduates shared that if they could go back in time, they would absolutely change their majors. To avoid falling into this situation, students should carefully evaluate various factors while choosing a major.
This article will highlight the 4 most important factors that any student should consider when choosing a major that fits their objectives, passions, and personal values.
4 Factors When Choosing a Major
1. Interests and Passions
“You can do anything as long as you have the passion, the drive, the focus, and the support.” – Sabrina Bryan.
Start with the most personal and crucial factors in searching for the right major: interests and passions! Not surprisingly, studies show that students who learn in their interests do better in school.
“What is your passion?” is a big question that not everyone can easily answer, but you can always start with something small and particular, such as: What do you usually do in your spare time? Do you prefer to work with numbers or with text? Is it your greatest passion to care for animals? Which field tickles your interest? Is it better to study business, law, or coding?
Many students will find it difficult to grasp their own interests and passions. Active participation in extracurricular activities is one of the keys to recognizing these two aspects. Extracurricular activities not only appear to “beautify” your profile, but also connect you with groups or projects that you are engaged in, allowing you to have a deeper understanding of what you are interested in.
>> How did Nguyen Van Chien’s great love for education help him connect with Princeton University’s ideals? Listen to Chien talk about his journey on the Chuyen di hoc podcast.
2. Individual Ability
“Anything you’re good at contributes to happiness.” – Bertrand Russell
Next, it’s time to reflect on your proudest achievements! What subject or field are you most proud to study and participate in? It can be math, physics, public speaking, athletics, art, or any other ability.
If nothing comes to your mind, think about your grades in class and any remarkable achievements you’ve made while engaging in any activities. Don’t worry if you haven’t discovered your strengths yet. Many seniors are still on the lookout for their strengths, and we will continue to do so in university.
Abilities, like passions and interests, take practice. Joining extracurricular activities, again, is a good way to strengthen and grow your skills. We highly encourage students to actively seek out and engage in clubs and activities from high school to university.
“With goals, you can create the future in advance.” – Tony Robbins.
Now, you may have had some initial thoughts about what you want to do in the future. It is important to note that the destinations of majors at university are not always the corresponding careers that will be high-demand on the job market. It is critical to understand the major-profession connection. And the next factor you should think about and research will be professional objectives. High income, perfect living, and a dream lifestyle are the most prevalent career goals in students. Work-life balance is, once again, a thorny issue. You can work for a “great” salary, but you don’t have much time for yourself or your family. Or maybe your desired job isn’t available in your current area, so you’ll have to relocate to a larger city.
Make a list of the most important things to you, then evaluate the career possibilities that can make your “dream come true,” and lastly, choose the best major that fits.
We believe that before reading this article, you may have had some early thoughts for a major. Perhaps after considering the first two factors, passion and ability, you can discover prospective options. From here, you are more motivated and confident in your decision to enter the right university.
Of course, there will be many students who remain undecided in their research. Don’t be rushed! What you need is more time to explore and experience the world. Another option that could work for you right now is to consider enrolling in a liberal arts college. Before deciding on a major, students can study the foundations of knowledge from a range of fields at liberal arts colleges.
The importance of picking the right major cannot be overstated. This is one of the initial stages on the path to self-development that each student must take. Remember, you’re not alone in this decision! Your family, academic advisors, and College Compass’s counselors are always there to help and support you.
College Compass is a college admission consulting program by Everest Education. We offer strategic solutions to help aspiring high school students (Grade 9-12) and gap year students get into the best universities and colleges in the world.
Our program is led by experienced admissions counselors/coaches who graduated from top US universities (Harvard, Stanford, MIT, UPenn…) and thoroughly understand the US education system. Our students have been accepted to many top universities globally, including Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Duke, Williams, Amherst…
We offer you a personalized pathway and strategies, including school selection, standardized testing, extracurricular activity guidance, essay writing, scholarship applications, etc. No matter which phase you are in, we offer a tailored package to your age, preferences and study goals to help you achieve your dreams.
