Choosing a college major can be nerve-racking. Whether you have no idea what you want to do, or you want to do it all, the road to declaring is not an easy one to travel. Take it from me, a junior who has been undecided up until last semester. I quite literally waited until the last minute to declare advertising as my major, and that’s okay. No one should feel rushed into such a big decision, especially if they are as unsure as I once was. Luckily, as someone who has been through this stressful process very recently, I ended up learning things along the way. So, without further ado, here are the three questions you can ask yourself that will bring you one step closer to declaring your major.
1.) Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
Do not feel obligated to stay inside the realm of practicality when answering this question. In the most cliche way possible, DREAM BIG. Close your eyes and think about where you want to be in 20 years. Do you want to be traveling the world? Do you want to be running your own business? Do you want to be writing songs that land on the top of the chart every single time? No matter what your answer is to this question, make sure it makes you smile, gets you excited, and has you daydreaming about your future every day.
2.) What do you like to do?
This answer should relate somewhat to your last one. If you picture yourself traveling the world in the future, then maybe it’s because you like discovering new places, meeting new people, or learning about different cultures. If you see yourself writing hit songs, then maybe you find the most joy in listening to music, going to concerts, or freestyling when you find random inspiration. Regardless of what you like to do, it will probably relate to where you want to be in 20 years, which is exactly what we are looking for.
3.) What will you have to do?
It is time to finally apply our answers to the process of declaring a major. If you dream of running your own business, what will it take for you to get there? The obvious answer might be attaining a degree in Business Management or Entrepreneurship, but what else will it take? My advice here is to write down every major that could bring you one step closer to your dreams and take note of all the requirements that major entails. If you need some extra help with this step, here is a simple template I used in my career exploration meetings that helped me declare my major:
Major: Description:
Degree Requirements/College Graduation Requirements:
Personal Characteristics/Abilities Needed:
Career Options:
Why are you considering this major? How does this major factor into your future goals?:
One step closer…
After giving each of these questions some deep thought, you should be one step closer to deciding which major will help you achieve your dreams. Remember, the most important part of this process is, to be honest with yourself. Focus on what will make you happy in the long run and try your best to take money out of the equation. Besides, if you’re good at what you do, the money will come to you.What truly matters, in the end, is pursuing something that makes you happy and will get you to where you want to be in 20 years
–Hailey Elko, Account Associate
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