Choosing a Major

Copyright 2024 Financial Aid Consulting. All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced mechanically, electronically, by photocopying, or by any other means without the author's permission. Howard can be reached at finaidguy@gmail.com or 781-341-023

Deciding on a college major is like predicting what a student will do for the rest of their life. Deciding based on their credentials is difficult, as the economy and technological changes influence them.  Unless they have a clear and unwavering passion, drive, and intellect to make that decision, students should be open-minded and practical about choosing a major.  

Although many colleges only allow students to declare their major after their first or second year, students should focus on majors that provide the foundation for pursuing worthwhile opportunities, especially for paying off student loans as quickly as possible.

Even if a student has yet to learn of their major, they should consider colleges offering many majors rather than those focusing on a select few. They could also start at a two-year college, transfer from their state or low-cost college, take a gap year off, join the military, or work for a year. One way or the other, the experience is also a great teacher for helping students select the major in which they are the most comfortable.

To facilitate this process, I have created the following MAJORS model, which provides students with another tool for deciding on a major. 

Meeting with others. Could you meet with your guidance counselors to ask for a list of recent student graduates and the colleges they are attending? These students have already decided on a college and major and can provide helpful insight. Students may feel more comfortable networking with other students with whom they have something in common rather than with adults. If they are ready to network with adults about majors and careers, they should prepare a list of questions, including what they do, educational requirements, and recommended colleges. They should be sensitive to the time and insight they can provide. 

Aptitude: Liking a particular major does not necessarily mean that the students have the aptitude or ability to pursue it. If, for example, the student decides to become a doctor but does not have the grades or test scores to get into medical school, they can pursue a related career in health sciences, occupational or physical therapy, etc., to remain in the same field but in a different capacity.  There are also personality and aptitude tests and teacher recommendations that can open a student’s mind to related majors.

Judgment: This is where counseling and coaching are so important. I have met with many students who chose the same majors and colleges as their friends without further thought. They did not know what else to take, nor did they feel more secure with their friends, and they avoided more stressful decisions. These are the wrong and expensive reasons to select a major or a college, especially when a less costly degree may be earned at a community or state college.  

Opportunities: The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides information regarding projected job growth, earnings, skills required, and related jobs from 2008 to 2018. These projections can also focus on which majors will give the most significant opportunities after four college years.

One interesting statistic is that the highest job growth for those with an associate or bachelor’s degree is registered nurses, accountants and auditors, elementary school teachers, management analysts, and computer software engineers. These translate into health science, education, business management, accounting, computer science, and engineering majors.  Loan forgiveness programs for education majors and other careers may also be available to lessen overall education costs after graduation.  

Many gifted and talented creative students with artistic and writing talents cannot get jobs after graduation. In their case, the best win-win situation is to pursue dual majors, where they can gain employment after graduation while pursuing their artistic and creative talents. 

Research: During the college selection, students should research the graduate placement rate, starting salaries, and positions graduates have accepted.  They can also check with professional organizations to learn which colleges provide the talent pool from which the industry draws and any scholarships they may offer. Job search sites also identify jobs in demand and the required qualifications. 

Scholarships: Many colleges go through a process called “enrollment management,” or in other words, they are scouting for students. Please find out how they award merit aid and the types of students they pursue. Find out if any colleges are offering new majors to attract incoming students. Identify colleges offering cooperative education programs where students can get hands-on experience and be paid for it.

Remember that a college major does not lock you into a lifetime of doing one thing. Even if you have a college degree and can learn, many opportunities may not exist today. Once you are out of college, the choice is yours if you give it your best.