Choosing a College Major

Even as a high school senior, I highly recommend that you declare a major when you are applying to colleges, even if you are not 100% sure if that is the major you will stick out with. You may think well, that doesn’t make sense to me, I am not committed yet!

The reason for this advice is that numerous scholarships are offered to seniors in high school based on what they want to do in college (yes, they will take your word for it and gladly give you the money).  Don’t skip out on free money!

Don’t believe me? Here are some scholarships being offered to incoming freshmen, many of them depending on their declared major:

http://superscholar.org/scholarships/25-popular-college-scholarships/

          Now then, which major should you declare? Arguably so, this is the hardest decision a student has to make in their entire college career. This decision will impact both how potential employers will assess your abilities when you apply for jobs as well your earning potential if you choose to stay in that industry. Although the typical mantra on the street is to major in anything you are passionate about, there is a key puzzle piece missing in this advice.

 I would actually rephrase that advice and say it this way: major in anything you are passionate about, as long as there is sufficient demand and potential for growth in that industry. With increasing amounts of automaton and outsourcing in our society, many jobs are now performed either by machines or by foreign workers in other countries. Be sure to check out the career statistics for your major and career path you are interested in before you pick your major to ensure you are picking a viable major that you won’t regret. With rising student debt, this is extremely important. You don’t want to take out $50,000 in loans for a degree that won’t get you a job, would you? Make sure to choose wisely.

I recommend that you start out with degrees in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and business fields. The rationale is that these fields typically have higher salaries and demand for jobs, so it is worth checking out majors in these areas. Afterwards, if you don’t like the major you chosen and feel like STEM or business fields are not what you are interested in, then you can drop it and pick up another major that interests you.

Now, some of you may be thinking, if your new major doesn't provide good job prospects, what then? If you are interested in subjects that don’t fall in the above categories, then try to incorporate a unique spin into your brand as you major in the subject that does interest you. For instance, if you really love English, incorporate how you would be an asset to firms that are typically hiring in the STEM and Business fields. Perhaps you can be a key player in the way important business documents such as financial reports are written and edited at that business firm. Likewise, if psychology is your favorite subject, consider applying for product development positions. You will bring to the table a unique mindset for understanding consumers and their behavior, which gives the company an incentive to hire you as they develop new products to increase their profitability.

Similarly, if art is your passion, perhaps you can design the t-shirts and key chains that the company uses for their recruitment efforts at college campuses. Maybe you can even design better graphics for their website. Your creativity will make that firm’s products and brand stand out, making you a valuable asset to the company. In this way, you can turn a major or career that seems to not have much demand or does not pay well by itself into a highly profitable venture. Additionally, artists can also use sites such as etsy.com to generate side income from doing what they are passionate about such as painting and selling it directly to consumers.  

After picking a career and major, you should assess the level of education required for that career. Some careers, such as becoming a doctor, require more than just completing a Bachelor’s degree. Students also have to complete four years of medical school, a type of graduate school, followed by additional years of training for residencies and fellowships. Similarly, if you want to become a leading researcher at a top university, you will have to earn your Bachelor’s degree, go on to graduate school to earn a PhD and possibly even complete post-doc positions before you are hired for a tenure-track faculty position. Hence, the amount of education you need to complete is based on the career you choose.