All college students eventually have to ask themselves, “What major should I choose?” Finding the answer to that question can be a challenge, especially if it seems like some of your peers already have it figured out. A lot of times, major decision-making boils down to identifying your interests and what motivates you. Studies show that students who enjoy what they’re learning perform better in their program of choice. If you choose a major because you’re influenced by others, you may not be as excited and motivated. It can also be difficult to compellingly discuss your educational journey in future interviews and career conversations. Consider the advice of friends, family, and advisors but never forget that the final decision is yours.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PICKING A MAJOR:
1. What do you like?
The first thing to consider when picking a major is what you like to do. By the time you reach Villanova, you probably have enough information and experience from your high school classes to narrow down what you might or might not be interested in pursuing.
Here are some ways you can dig deeper:
- List 10 things you love. Listing what you love doing, both inside or outside the classroom, is a great way to envision possible paths you can take. What majors align with these activities or give you exposure to growing your skills and knowledge in these areas?
- Make a list of strengths and weaknesses. Figuring out your strengths and weaknesses can help you assess what kind of major to pursue. Struggle with math? A major heavy in quantitative work might not be the best fit for you.
- Take a career assessment. It can help you match your interests with potential careers and give you an idea of how your passions could guide what you want to major in. (The Villanova Career Center offers a variety of assessments to take, including the Focus2 and the Strong Interest Inventory.)
- Narrow it down. Pull up a list of all available Villanova majors and start crossing out the ones you know you’re not interested in. This can make the decision feel more manageable. Once you have a trimmed down list of options, take a look at the required and elective courses within that area of study. Can you see yourself engaging in these classes? Does the class list excite and energize you?
2. What are your career goals?
If you have a specific career goal in mind, you might need to pick your major or program in advance. While it’s often true that your major doesn’t directly map to a specific career path – and employers are generally open to a variety of disciplines, there might be majors that can put you in a good position to enhance your skills or learn more about a specific field. Remember that a combination of major, minors, concentrations and out-of-classroom experiences all make you a great candidate for future opportunities, so your major isn’t the only consideration in your viability as a candidate for future roles.
3. Talk to advisers and professionals.
The best initial source of college advice is often your academic advisor. They’ve helped lots of students who are making the same decisions you are. Your advisor can tell you more about college majors and program offerings. Share your interests and strengths, and career goals if you have them, to see if they have wisdom on majors that could be a good fit for you. The Career Center is also happy to meet with students to talk through the major decision process and share resources to show how various majors connect to potential career paths.
4. Have a backup plan.
Lots of college students end up switching their major, and it’s always good to have a backup plan if you decide your major isn’t for you. What other choices might you want to pursue? Are there minors or free electives to add that better align with your emerging interests? The combination of your major, minors, concentrations, and non-academic experiences (internships, research, study abroad, extracurriculars, volunteering, etc.) all tell the story of who you are as a student and a potential candidate, so while your major is a critical choice in your college experience, remember that it’s not the only thing that counts!
Villanova Resources to Help You Explore Majors & Career Paths
- Visit the Career Connections Career Exploration and Planning Page.
- Schedule a ‘General Career Counseling’ or ‘Exploring Majors & Career Paths’ appointment via Handshake with the Career Center to discuss your interests and strengths.
- View the Career Readiness Roadmap: Charting Your Career Journey, a 4-stage plan to help you guide through your career at Villanova.
- Visit What Can I Do With This Major?, a website that helps you connect majors to careers.
- Discover where a Villanova bachelor’s degree can take you by using our interactive outcomes explorer.
References:
https://connections.villanova.edu/resources/?ctag%5B%5D=career-exploration-and-planning https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/find-your-fit/choosing-right-major-for-you
