I am stumped on choosing college majors! What can I do?

Choosing college majors is one of the many critical decisions you will make when you go to college. Note that I said 'when' instead of 'before' you go to college because it can be a much longer process for some people. Many students end up changing college majors often because they just couldn't find the right fit for them. However, there are certain things you can do to help you find your so called 'calling.'

There are some things that I did to give me a sense of direction when choosing college majors. Like most students, I was not sure of which one I wanted to commit the next four years of my life to. But, one thing I did know was I wanted to finish a bachelor's degree...at least. So, I set out to find my passion and the things that I excel in doing. In a way, I call it 'finding myself.'

So how did I do it? There is not a single, simple answer to this one. However, I will tell you the things that I did to finally decide on my college major.

Let me digress for a moment though...

This so called 'Finding myself' was a long process for me, and it maybe the same case for you, but it was well worth the time and effort that I put into it. I will tell you though that even if you feel sure about your major, there will be times when you will doubt your decision. These times will arise especially when you are taking a class or a teacher you hate or you are simply not doing good in a class. When these things happen...don't doubt.

My advice?

Re-assess yourself and ask: Do I still feel the passion I once had for my major?

You probably wonder why I put so much emphasis on this 'passion' thing and I have a very good reason for it. First, you will be stuck with your college major for four years of your life. Second, your major, for the most part, determines which career you will have for the rest of your working life (I'll say 'for the most part' for now, I will explain more later). Imagine majoring in something you don't really like to do and end up doing it for the rest of your life. That is a terrible position to be in. Also, doing something you love will make college a little bit easier and more tolerable during your most difficult times.

Ok, so here is list of the things I did to 'find myself.'

You can begin your career search in most high schools, community colleges, and vocational schools that have a career assessment center. At these centers, you can take a series of tests that will determine various things about your personality. For example, your test results can tell you if you're better off working with people or with computers. So, if you have great people skills, a teaching or nursing career may just be the right job for you. On the other hand, people who are great with computers would fit in a computer technology career such as computer programmers, etc.

The personality tests are only one part of the career guidance that you can get from the career assessment center. I will discuss other possible in more detail in this section. Who knows...it might just help you determine your future career.

If you have some spare time, taking a vocational course can be very enlightening. I classify vocational courses as those classes that are offered by the city or county you live in. These organizations send out quarterly brochures for a list of the short courses that they offer. Most of them offer a variety of classes to choose from.

This option is particularly helpful if you want to 'try out' a specific career field to get a feel/observe of what your daily tasks will be like. This option is great because besides learning career related concepts in class, the courses usually have a requirement for internships at a related work setting. This gives you both the knowledge and practical skills to determine if this field is right for you.

For instance, if you have thought of being a registered nurse as one of your career options, you may want to take a certified nurse assistant course. This course will require less of your time and money invested compared to enrolling in a nursing school right away. So that, if you decide that this career is not right for you, you will have more resources (time and money) to pursue other fields. Don't limit yourself with this example though. Check your snail mail for the city/county brochure to see if there are vocational courses you may want to explore.

For a more elaborate example of what a vocational course can do for you, I will tell you about

my own experience when I took my first and only vocational course.

If you have some idea of what you like to do but you are not ready to commit, you can look for organizations that accept interns or volunteers. This is similar to taking a vocational course but you will not be taking any clasess. As an intern or volunteer, you receive on-the-job training and immerse yourself in the experience from day one.

Note that there are differences between being a volunteer and an intern. You may or may not like volunteering. The probability that you will like a volunteer program depends on your personality and the organization. Internships are a little different because they are usually well established by the organization and are designed to possibly hire you as a permanent employee.

The factors to look for when choosing a volunteer or internship program are a little subtle. Let me tell you some of the factors that I look for in these kinds of programs.

Have you ever wondered how an expert in your field feels about their career? The most direct way to find out is to interview the professionals in that field. For example, you may be thinking of becoming a guidance counselor at a high school. The best way to find more about this career is to make an appointment with your guidance counselor. Once you make the appointment, be sure that you have your questions and note-taking equipment ready.

If you are having a difficult time finding a professional to interview, find other ways to get there. I remember being in this position myself and I want to share my experience with you. But no matter what happens, you will sure have a better understanding of your possible future career if you do this step.

Chose the wrong major

I did not originally plan to write this section but I feel like it is important to talk about it. Why? Most students don't realize that they can change their career's direction without changing their undergraduate major. There is one catch though, you may have to take additional classes or go to graduate or professional school. So, when I said 'for the most part' during my introduction, it means that your major does not always/ultimately determine your career.

As you go through college, you may find that there are other things that interest you more than your major. On the other hand, you may feel that you want to add value to your resume to land that dream job. Either way, you are not at a dead end. That is, if you are willing to do some extra work.

Continue on to this link to read more about your career enhancing/changing options.