Eventually you are going to have to decide on a major. In many cases, you can be an undeclared major for two years, but the sooner you choose a major, the better off you will be. When you move into a major, you will have an advisor in your major rather than a general advisor. You can start applying for scholarships in your major and possibly be considered for an internship in your major.
If you have followed the previous 8 steps, you have obtained a lot of information on prospective majors. The final decision can be difficult, but the following questions might help.
- How much flexibility will your career give you over 30 – 40 years? Your interests will change and your major should give you the flexibility to adjust your career to your interests.
- How can you balance a major that challenges you but is one where you can be a success? You want to find a major that helps you get the most out of your abilities. One of the regrets of many college graduates is taking the easy way out.
- Does your major have realistic job prospects? While getting a job is not the primary purpose of college, you do need to ultimately get back the investment from college.
- Are you comfortable with the environment of the department? Is this a program that supports its students? Do students in the major seem to have a connection with the faculty? Does the faculty have good teacher ratings?
- How likely will you be able to complete the curriculum in four years? You may not have the financing to go longer than four years.
Ultimately you need to make your decision based on your sense of what is best for you. You need to do a lot of thinking about your major, but the ultimate decision has to be one that you feel comfortable with.