Are you a college or university student pursuing a new tertiary education career? It’s such an exciting time, with the prospect of new knowledge, new friends, new experiences and new locations to explore. Some connections you make while studying can become lifetime friends, whereas the knowledge you’ll gain will set you up for a successful career. Even the critical thinking, analysis and research skills you’ll develop will become useful later in life.
But what if you’re stumped as to what major you should pick? Choosing a major can be difficult if you don’t have a solid idea of what type of career you’d like to embark on. However, you must pick the right major, as it will inform much of your study. This helpful article will share a student guide to choosing your major. By the end, you’ll have a good idea of the majors available and how they can benefit you. So, continue reading to learn more.
Consider a Psychology Major
Consider enrolling in a psychology major while studying. A psychologist is a registered health professional trained in human behaviour, cognition and various therapies. Some psychologists choose to complete further studies to specialize in different areas of psychology, such as health, neuropsychology, clinical psychology, community, organizational, forensics (working with criminals), or exercise and sports psychology. As you can see, a wide range of career options are available if you study psychology.
Psychologists often work in settings such as schools, hospitals, community centres, courts, businesses, corporations, prisons and private practices.
Some psychologists may specialize in family therapy or working with kids. Others will favour working with adults or group therapy. Psychologists are typically paid well and enjoy good workplace benefits and perks.
Does the Tertiary Institution Offer It?
When considering your options, you should find out if the college, university or school you’re studying offers majors you’re interested in. If it doesn’t, you may have to consider jumping ship to an institution that offers what you want. You can browse websites when choosing a college or university to see the subjects offered and make an informed decision.
Know Your Priorities
When it comes time to pick your major, you should have a firm idea of your priorities for study. For instance, you might have your mind and heart set on a particular career, so choosing a major that offers a pathway into that career would make sense. You’ll also want to consider aspects like pay rates, job benefits and how in-demand that profession is. For instance, if you want to enter a saturated profession, you’ll need to consider whether you’ll be good enough to stand out. For instance, the legal sector, IT, sales and marketing are highly saturated fields where you’ll need some serious talent, skill and nous to stand out and carve a successful career.
Or, you may want to follow a lifelong passion or interest, and the joy of studying, discovering new things and learning is enough to influence your decision on a major. For instance, some people have a keen interest in history, and others in literature or art. You could choose a major that will ignite your passion and allow you to immerse yourself in a lifelong obsession.
Work to Your Strengths
Understanding your strengths and what you excel at is an excellent method to determine which is significant to study. For instance, if you are good with numbers, have an analytical brain and love problem-solving, then a major such as mathematics, data science or economics might be the best bet. You can always choose to study an elective you are interested in, but that might not be your strong point.
It’s worth sitting down with a pen and paper and writing down your strengths. This self-assessment will assist you in choosing a major as you can map out what you’re good at and then plan accordingly.
Ask For Advice
By the time it comes to choosing your major, you should have established some good relationships with your professors and other students. Sometimes, asking someone else their opinion can be a great way to get advice. It’s worth approaching your teachers and asking them what they think you would be good at. They should be honest and give you some worthwhile guidance. Your peers can also offer input, as they’ve seen you develop as a student alongside them.
Consider a Double Major
This option is not for the faint-hearted, but if you’re confident you can fulfil the required credits for a double major, you could set yourself up well for life. This will be challenging, depending on the two majors you choose. However, there may also be overlap, such as if you study management and marketing or economics and commerce.
To decide if a double major is right for you, you should clearly know your future career prospects and goals. You should also ensure you want to immerse yourself in both subjects, as you’ll have less time for other academic pursuits and social activities or extracurricular things like sports or gaming.
Consider Future Proofing Your Career
With the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, it’s worth considering how to future-proof your career when choosing a major for your tertiary study. Some careers might be made redundant thanks to AI in the future, such as data entry, travel agencies, some marketing functions and other jobs. It’s worth studying something that will future-proof your career and ensure that your human skills, knowledge and experience are valuable in the job market when you graduate.
How Difficult Will the Coursework Be?
When pondering your choice of significant, consider how demanding the coursework will be for your shortlist. This will impact you heavily should you choose a challenging major. For instance, aerospace engineering, physics and astrophysics, law, medicine and architecture are challenging degrees that lead to distinguished careers with excellent pay. However, if you have the intelligence, drive and passion to study these areas, you should consider them.
Take Some Intro Classes
If you’re a first-year student, it is well worth taking introductory classes to subjects you’re considering as a major. This way, you can have a sampler of the coursework, content, theories and practicals, and you can make an informed decision when it is time to choose your major.
A Student Summary
This informative article has shared everything you need to consider when choosing your major as a student. Hopefully, it has assisted you to make a balanced, informed and wise decision.
