5 Mistakes Students Make When Choosing a Major

By Elise Nelson on January 19, 2018

Choosing a major is not a decision to be taken lightly. It plays a role in determining your future, after all, and there is a lot of money at stake. (No pressure, right…?)

You don’t have to make a decision right away, especially since it is such a big deal. Plenty of students enter college as undecided and pick their major after a few semesters. So take some time, explore your options a bit, and avoid these five common mistakes students make when choosing a major.

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1. “I’ll major in whatever will get me the most money.”

Given how expensive it is to attend college, it’s not entirely far-fetched to frame your path as a business decision. You’re considering what careers will earn you the most money to pay for the education you’re receiving. Plus, you’ll feel a sense of security knowing you’re about to enter a high-paying field.

The mistake happens when you’re choosing a major solely based on money. You need to also consider your passions, your dislikes, and most importantly, your happiness. Can you see yourself investing the next 40 years or so in this career without getting bored?

The truth is, choosing a major with high-paying career options will not actually guarantee you a high-paying job. It will all depend on position openings and your competitors when you graduate. If there are limited openings, the job will go to someone who is truly interested in the field.

You should choose a major that you are driven to succeed in, even if you won’t make as much money.

2. “I’ll major in my hobby so I can enjoy the work.”

There is a balance that should be maintained when you’re choosing a major. You want to pick something that interests you, but you need to be sure that you won’t get sick of it as time progresses.

Often times, people will confuse their hobbies with their passions. Merriam-Webster defines a hobby as “a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.”

According to a photographer named Jenika, passions differ from hobbies in that passions are not relaxing. “Passions don’t leave you alone. Passions insert themselves into your life whether you have time for them or not. Passions soothe you and drive you crazy at the same time,” she said on her Psychology for Photographers blog.

A hobby is never meant to be your priority. When you choose to study your hobby—to build your life around it—it can lose its appeal, and then it won’t be relaxing anymore.

Choosing a major based on your passion means pursuing what you love despite all the work that goes into it. When evaluating your choices, you should think ahead to how you might feel about the field by the time you finish college.

3. “I don’t know anything about this major, but it interests me.”

Being interested in a major is a start, but don’t stop there. Researching the field will help you be sure that a major is right for you. If you know someone in the field or with that major, ask them for some input, or speak to the department’s professors at your college.

Consider the entire journey you’ll pursue—what kind of coursework the major demands, how many years of school you’ll need, and what job prospects will be available to you with a degree. If you’ve done your investigating and you’re still interested, dip your toes in before you commit. Try to get some experience—design something as a trial in the art world, or shadow someone in a business office.

Many times, the idea of a specific major is better than the reality for students who enter it blindly. A little research before choosing a major will go a long way to prepare you for what’s in store.

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4. “My parents want me to major in this.”

The opinions of your friends and family aren’t something to ignore, but the choice is ultimately yours. You’re the one doing the work and earning the degree. You’ll only truly enjoy and succeed in the field if you wanted to be in it in the first place.

If anyone wants to help you in choosing a major and you wholeheartedly agree with their opinions, then go with it. But if you want your future to go in any other direction, speak up. Explain your side—what makes you so passionate about choosing a different major?

Remember that college is an investment of both your time and money. The only way to get the best outcome is to shape your own future.

5. “I want to major in this, but it’s way too hard, so I’ll go with something easier.”

Don’t settle. You’re passionate about a field of study and you’ve researched it. You found that it’s a lot of work, which is a little intimidating. However, if you’re motivated enough to succeed, you can earn the degree. It might take a few extra years, you might have to study a little harder, or you might have to repeat a course—but you can get through it.

Honestly, there is no such thing as an “easy” major anyway. From an outside perspective, it may seem simple, but the students doing the work can probably tell you some horror stories. Every major has them. Never take the “easy” road when it comes to your future.

So, to recap—choosing a major can be difficult. You need to evaluate your passions, what you’re good at, and what you picture yourself doing for years. Listen to yourself instead of others. Finally, don’t worry if you change your mind—you can change your major too.

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