Universities and Colleges

Some have a passion for a subject. Some have an area in which they excelled in high school. Some have a career goal that will dictate the major they must take; for example, nursing, teaching, studio art, or engineering. But many students just don’t know. While they may have an idea of what they want to do after college, they might not have a clear idea what area of study will best help them reach that career goal. Nor is there usually only one major that leads to a specific career. In fact, many schools caution that choosing a career and choosing a major are two distinctly different processes.

Most educators agree that in choosing a major, students should consider what they like to do, what their abilities are, and how they like to learn. Some of the best resources for helping choose a major come from colleges and universities themselves. A large number of institutions post on their Web sites a wealth of information and tools to help prospective and current students select majors. While some Web sites focus entirely on the programs and services offered at that institution, many others post helpful information that can be applied to any college setting.

The most frequently cited advice includes:

1. Learn more about yourself. What are your academic strengths and weaknesses? What do you enjoy? What are your interests? What are your values? What are your immediate goals after graduating — getting a job or going to graduate school?
2. Take a personality or an interest inventory or assessment. If such inventory or assessment opportunities are not available in your secondary school or town, you can check at a U.S. Educational Advising/Information Center in your home country. Through its EducationUSA program, the U.S. Department of State operates more than 450 of these centers in 170 countries.
3. Visit Web sites of university departments. Look at the majors offered. Analyze the courses offered and the degree requirements. Some college faculty members post their course syllabi, a full description of the courses, online. The more you can learn about the types of courses and work required for a major, the better.
4. Once you are in the United States, go to departmental offices on campus and talk with staff, faculty, and students.
5. Visit college career centers and look for reports that list jobs recent graduates have found, as well as the subject area in which the graduate majored.
6. After you enroll, try out different courses in different departments. Learn about the faculty members who teach the major courses and about what kind of students enroll.
7. If you find yourself in the wrong major, don’t worry. Most students in U.S. colleges change their majors. Do not stay in a major you don’t like or that is not challenging and stimulating.
8. Don’t confuse a career choice with a major choice. Any major can prepare you for a number of different job possibilities. As the University of Washington states on its Web site, “A college education helps prepare you for the job market but doesn’t limit you to a specific career” [www.washington.edu/students/ugrad/advising/majchoos.html].

Written by Linda Tobash.