Majors and Careers

By junior year, some students have a firm major in mind, others have a general area of interest, and still others are truly undecided.


It’s important to remember that it’s okay to be unsure - in fact, 25% or more of students enter college undecided - and more than half change their major at some point during their college career!


So, take the time to explore and be certain, but here are some tips:

  • Complete the YouScience assessment in SCOIR (it's on your profile). These are a collection of about a dozen brain games, designed to be done in a few sittings (not all at once!). At the end, you'll wind up with a VERY comprehensive analysis of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as suggested careers and majors that fit your interests AND abilities.

  • Turn it upside down - look at Careers instead of Majors (Good resource: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors-careers).

  • Try out some electives that sound interesting - classes like Psychology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Accounting might give you an idea as to whether you’d like to take similar classes in college (when you have to pay for them!).

  • There isn’t always a linear path of major to career - many employers are looking for basic skills that can be acquired in a variety of majors - the ability to problem solve, work in teams, think critically, write and communicate.

  • Look for opportunities to intern, shadow, volunteer or work part-time to explore interests.

  • Look for colleges that have a program in Exploratory Studies (the new ‘undecided’) and strong advising programs, and provide a structured way for students to find their ideal major.

  • Consider how easy it is to change majors or declare into different programs. Do many of the programs only allow a limited number of students, or have stringent GPA requirements?

  • Many colleges offer more specific undecided programs - like Business Undecided or Engineering Undecided. These are great for students who have a good idea of their interests but haven’t experienced the different possibilities within the field.


Think you already know what you want? Consider the following:

  • Make sure you are taking the necessary courses in high school. If you’re looking for Engineering - don’t shy away from Calculus! (Good resource: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors-careers)

  • Considering something in health care? Internships, shadowing and volunteering are really becoming a ‘must’. Make sure you are documenting your hours carefully.

  • Look for schools that are strong in your area of interest. A school may be ‘highly ranked’, but may not offer what you’re looking for. Princeton’s a great school, but not if you want an undergraduate business major (they don’t have one!).

  • Keep an open mind when you get there! You may find a related field that is even more up your alley. Students in high school are exposed to only a limited amount of subjects - those doors are thrown wide open at the college level!

  • Some schools ‘admit to major’, and others admit to the university as a whole. Ask questions, and consider your best options. If you’re going to gamble and apply undecided, how hard will it be to declare that major later on?

  • If you are potentially interested in a major with an established, more linear course plan - it may be best to start there if you have some interest - and transfer out if it’s not what you want. This includes Engineering and Nursing.

  • Is the program “seated” (does it have only X amount of seats)? Transferring in later may not be possible unless others transfer out. Nursing can be a particularly difficult program to transfer into - if this is an interest, look for Pre-Nursing programs in addition to Direct Entry programs.

  • Look for differentiating factors specific to your program - program graduation rates, exam pass rates, placement rates, special accreditations, accelerated graduate degree programs, and other unique programs (like a study abroad program opportunity for your major!)


A collection of other helpful sites:

Five Ways to Explore a College Major

What Should I Major In? (Loyola of Chicago)

me3 Major and Career quiz (Arizona State University)

What Can I do with this major?

Can We Guess Your Future Purpose? (Buzzfeed - WVU)

What Can I Do With a Major in.... (UNCW)

What Are You Into? (UNCW)

What Can I Do With My Major? (UMBC)

Occupational Outlook Handbook Job descriptions, pay and job growth stats