There are a number of questions you’ll need to answer as you progress through your life. What kind of job do you want? Should you go to college? Where do you want to live as you get older? One of the most important choices you’ll need to make as you start on your professional journey is which field you’re going to major in.
A degree in virtually any niche will usually improve your chances of getting a higher-paying job with a better range of long-term opportunities. However, with literally thousands of majors to choose from, it can be notoriously difficult to determine where you should be focusing your attention. Here are some quick tips to help get you on the right path.
Consider Your Abilities
You’ll learn how to be a master of your chosen topic when you actually attend your college course and earn your degree. However, you’ll find the process is much easier, and a lot more fun if you focus on something you’re already well-versed in. For instance, if you’re great at mathematics, it makes sense to look into things like accounting, business, finance, and even engineering. If you’re skilled at cooking, you could train to become a professional chef. While you can develop other abilities over time, it can be difficult to excel in something you’re not naturally talented at.
Think About Your Passions
Once you’ve considered your abilities, the next, and perhaps most important area to consider, is your passions. What do you genuinely love doing, and how will you be able to convert that love into something which can earn you an income in the long-term? If you’re not particularly passionate about something specific, you can consider looking into the areas you’re interested in. For instance, you might not be particularly passionate about biology, but you might be interested in learning how the body works, and love experimenting with different scientific theories to see what turns out to be true.
Look into Employability
As much as you want to have fun in your career, it’s also important to remember it’s easier to get a job in some industries than others. While you might love the idea of becoming a professional influencer or YouTube content creator, you’ll also know it’s extremely difficult to gain a following and make a fortune in those spaces. On the other hand, if you earn a degree as a technology professional, you can lend your talent to a wide range of high-paying roles. More importantly, as the world becomes more tech-driven, you know for a fact you’re going to have lots of job opportunities for years to come.
Think About Finances
After you’ve looked into whether you can easily get a job in your chosen field, ask yourself how much you can reasonably earn with your degree. Getting a private student loan to get your graduate degree is a long-term investment in both time and money. You need to know the work you’re putting in now is going to benefit you in the long term. Consider looking into the careers you might be able to get with the major you’re interested in, to see what the average earning potential is. This will also help you to decide what level of education you need to unlock the best income. For instance, teaching at a college level could earn you a better income than teaching to nursery students.
Meet with Advisors
If you feel totally lost and confused about what your future should look like, it might be helpful to book a session with a career advisor, or someone from the university you’re thinking of applying with. They’ll be able to look at your current grades and suggest potential avenues for you to explore based on your academic ability and your interests. Additionally, they can suggest professional development opportunities that you might not even know exist.
Outside of talking to advisors, you can also discuss your options with people in your social circle too. Your friends and peers can be a great source of inspiration and ideas. Often, they see your skills more clearly than you do too. Your parents can even help you out with figuring out which direction you might want your education to go in.
Don’t Rush the Wrong Major
As exciting as it can be to start picking majors and looking into long-term career opportunities, the last thing you want to do is rush into making the wrong decision. Remember, start looking into your future ahead of time, and give yourself plenty of space to make a decision at the pace that’s right for you. This is your chance to decide what your future will look like. When you consider your abilities, passions, employability, finances, meeting with advisors, there are plenty of opportunities to help you decide the major that’s right for you.
