Choosing your major is a decision that will effect you for the rest of your life. That’s why it’s something you should carefully consider. While some people change their majors at some point, it’s much simpler if you pick the right one from the beginning. Let’s look at five of the most important factors to consider when selecting your major.
What Are Your Natural Talents?
When you’re naturally good at something, it’s easier to excel in that field. Some people are good with numbers, others are better with images or words. You can usually find a major and career that matches your natural abilities.
How Much Study Does This Field Require?
Some jobs require a four year degree while others, such as law or medicine require further schooling. Consider how long you want to be in school before you can begin practicing in your chosen field. Another consideration would be your financial situation. If a post graduate degree is your goal, you may want to consider how you will pay for the degree. If you have good grades you may be able to gain a scholarship. However, if there is a chance you will take a student loan to obtain it, it would be worth looking at the return on investment of the job that you could get.
What Are Your Job and Earning Prospects?
No matter how much you enjoy something or how good you are at it, it also helps if you can find a job when you graduate. A related issue is what kind of salary you can expect to earn when you do get a job. Study economic trends and the job market. You don’t have to pick the field with the very highest salary, but you probably want to choose a major that can at least land you a decent job.
What Do You Enjoy?
You don’t want to work in a field that bores you, no matter how great the pay. Picking a major should be a balance between the practical and your genuine interests. If you enjoy experimenting with the scientific equipment from microscope.com, you should consider majoring in a field such as biology or physics. If you like computers, there are many different fields related to programming and computer science.
What Kind of Lifestyle Do You Want?
Another factor to consider is what type of environment and lifestyle your major will lead to. Some fields require a great deal of travel. Others will compel you to work in an urban setting, while others might have you doing research in remote parts of the world. Before choosing your major, picture what your life will be like in ten years and ask yourself if this is what you really want.
For some people, choosing a major is simple because they know exactly what they intend to do. For others, it’s more complicated and requires them to weigh many different factors. It’s best to consider as many aspects of a major as possible, including your strengths, interests and future job prospects.
