If you aren’t at college yet, research common majors and what people do with them. Once you decide on a few solid choices, look for colleges that are known for strong programs in those fields. If you are already at a college and you don’t want to transfer, look at the available majors that are listed on your university website.
Speak with people who have already completed certain majors. Ask for their perspective. Find out what they might do differently. Talk to advisers from your chosen college. They can help answer questions about any department that you’re considering joining.
Remember that you don’t need to go to college right away just because a lot of other people are doing it. Consider whether you are being shepherded into this. Do you know what you want to get out of your college experience? Is it your choice, or is it your parents'?
On the other hand, you may find your calling in a major that you initially dismiss. You may not discover your love for economics until you take an introductory econ class. Trust your gut, but keep an open mind. It can be hard to trust your gut when you are drawn to several different majors. What if you can see yourself happily majoring in Biology, Music, or Computer Science? Remember that you can always mix majors and minors. You can even choose a double major, if you’re up to the challenge!
Research the job market. If your top priority is finding a job quickly upon graduation, then it might help to find out which jobs are in high demand. Try to use this knowledge to your advantage.
The instructor’s name and contact information should be listed on the website alongside the course description. If you can’t find the contact information, search the department website or run a web search for the professor. If a school has very large lectures—hundreds of people in one room—you might not even need to reach out to the professor. Accompany a friend to a big lecture, or just filter in with the enrolled crowd. This can be a great, free way to feel out a course.
Choose something that excites and interests you. Ask yourself, “What would I enjoy learning about each day?”
You may find that it’s easy to switch between similar majors. For instance, many classes may overlap between the English degree path and the Comparative Literature path. You may find a lot of common ground between the Biology track and the Environmental Science track. [8] X Research source The general education requirements (GEs) are usually fairly similar across a “department” or “school” within a university. For instance, many of the introductory classes for the Mechanical Engineering track probably apply to other tracks within the engineering department. Biology, Chemistry, and Physics degree paths often require some mixture of the same introductory science courses.
