Author: Teen Taxes
Category: College Money
Posted: Thursday, 28 January 2010
Views: 710
How can I choose a college major that's right for me?
Congratulations! You just finished your junior year in high school! Senior year, here you come! But senior year also means something a little intimidating– choosing what college you want to go to.
How do you decide? Some make the choice based on location– do you want to be near your family or on the other side of the country? Do you want to be in a city on a rural campus? Some choose based on the type of school – an ivy league, a liberal arts college, a school for engineering. Some decide based on the majors, minors and concentrations offered by a certain school.
Linda Tobash from the University of Pennsylvania shared some insight about college majors, what they are, and how you can help choose the major that's right for you. Let's take a look at some of the questions Tobash addresses in her article.
What is a college major?
In simple terms, a college major is an academic area you dedicate the majority of your time at college to studying. Generally, after spending four years at a college studying a certain major, you graduate with a bachelor's degree, indicating that you are recognized as being specialized in that chosen area.
Are major credits all I will study?
No– a fair amount of your time as a student in traditional colleges is also spent taking GEN–EDs, or general education classes. These classes, combined with your major classes, help develop you into a well–rounded academic, though with an emphasis on a particular area of study.
What about minors and concentrations?
Minors and concentrations are specific areas of a study you can choose to closely study in addition to your major. Minors and concentrations don't have to relate exactly to your chosen major, but often, they do for practical purposes. For example: an aspiring math teacher may major in Mathematics and minor in secondary education; an aspiring therapist may major in Psychology and minor in film simply out of secondary interest.
When should I pick a college major?
The answer to this question is there is no answer. Some students submit their college applications with a clear picture of their future–major, minor or concentration included. Some register for general education courses the first semester or two and pick a major based on a class that piques their interest. Some go multiple semesters as "undecided." Some choose a major and change two years later.
Generally, you're expected to declare a major by the end of your sophomore year in college so that you can complete your major requirements in time to graduate you're your class. The advantage of choosing a major early is that you can complete your major credits early on, or at your leisure, rather than cramming them into the last few semesters of your time at college. A disadvantage of choosing too early, however, is the possibility that you may change your line, and at a certain point, it may be too late to change to another major.
How do I choose a major?
Again – there is no quick–fix answer to this one. Some students declare a major in a field that they are truly passionate about. Some choose a major based on what discipline they know best. Some choose a field because they are attracted to the salary, or because it is required for them to continue with further schooling.
Some tips for choosing a major that's right for you are the most obvious ones: decide what you love to do and balance it with a rational choice that will allow you to flourish to your envisioned potential as an adult; seek guidance from parents, older siblings, professional role models, and of course, your high school guidance counselor and college academic advisors. They have been there! They might not be able to tell you what to choose, but they will certainly be able to lend their experience and help lead you towards choosing a major that's right for you.