Contrary to what you may have been told, your choice of university major now is not necessarily going to lock you into a life path forever. If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, check out these 4 proven steps to begin narrowing down your options. Take charge of your future in 3…2…1…
How do I choose my university major? Most of us choose our university major according to one of three criteria:
- What my parents recommend
- What my friends are choosing
- Whatever my grades (or scholarship) can get me into
Yet this choice can be a critical one that determines your future career. So how should you make it?
WHEN WE ARE 18, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PASSION EVERY MONTH (IF NOT EVERY WEEK).
Some of us are lucky enough to know what our passions are from a young age, and we can pursue them; but for most of us, when we are 18, we have a different passion every month (if not every week). This makes it challenging to know what the “right” choice of major is. Here are few tips that may help.
- Ask yourself what you are good at. What subjects are you good at? Which classes do you enjoy the most? What type of work do you like to do at school (individual vs. groups)? What do your friends and family think you are good at?
- What are your hobbies? What types of activities do you like to do when you are not in school? Are you social? Do you like to volunteer and help people? Do you love to read (and if so, what types of books?) These are all clues to what you are truly passionate about, and what you would probably enjoy and do well at.
TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE STUDIED THE FIELD YOU ARE INTERESTED IN, AND ASK THEM ABOUT THE WORK THEY DO AFTER GRADUATION.
- Do your research. This is the fun part. You can research your potential field in many ways. Go online and read about it. Talk to people who have studied the field you are interested in, and ask them about the work they do after graduation. You can even try to get an internship in the field to give you a better idea about what you will be getting into.
- Don’t be afraid to explore new routes.Many people have been conditioned to think that you need to get a degree, find a good, secure (preferably government) job, and work until you reach retirement age so you can get your monthly retirement salary and live well until you die. While this is great advice for some, there are also other options. What about trying to open your own business? Being a job creator instead of a job seeker?
These are some of the most common strategies that can help you decide what your “calling” is. If all else fails, use the process of elimination. I know what I don’t like, so what does that leave me with? And then do your research and make a choice.
