One of the most challenging decisions we have to make in our life is choosing which university course is best for us. This decision can determine the career path we will take, where we live and even how we develop as a person. Given many of us will be working until our 60s, college not only sets us on first career but may influence what we do for a second or third act. So, it is important to think about a career we enjoy and a college that will help make that true, bearing in mind our plans may also change over those 4 years. Here are some ideas on choosing the perfect major and setting yourself on a successful career path.
Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses
One of the most important things to take into consideration when choosing a school and a major is an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. It would be crazy to select a degree in mathematics if you know you are weak at addition and subtraction. Look at the subjects you studied at school – which ones did you excel at and have a natural talent for? If you were good at science, you could choose from several degrees. If biology was your strongest subject, you might want to pursue a degree in Science or even be more specific and choose a degree in Zoology or Genetics. You also need to consider what you like doing? If you have strengths in one particular subject, only consider it as a major if you actually find the subject interesting and enjoy it.
Career Prospects
If you ask yourself, ‘what can I do to find my ideal career?’ You must first consider what degree you need to complete in order to enter the field. You also need to know whether that career is easily attainable. Given your school and likely grades, what are your realistic prospects? What are conditions in the industry or field like?
Getting a university degree is that first step into a career, so it is vital that you choose a course with excellent career prospects. Before you apply for a major, do some research by looking at job sites and see what careers are in demand. If you choose a degree in an unusual, specialized subject, you might find it challenging to find employment.
Do What You Like
You must choose a major that interests you and never choose a path because your friends are taking it or peer pressure. Nor should you major in something because you heard it is easy or conversely just because you think it qualifies you for a highly paid job. If you study something you are interested in and enjoy, you are more likely to stick to it and achieve excellent grades and be successful in the field later.
Course Availability
If you want to stay close to home and not move far away from your family, you should see what majors and classes the universities in your area offer. Sometimes staying close to home can be an excellent financial option because you don’t have to pay for student accommodation.
You should also be wary of very popular majors as you may struggle to secure a place. If that is the case, talk to advising at the school to see how you will get into those courses and what your four years of classwork will look like to prevent being frustrated or disappointed later.
Practical Experience
If you have work experience in a particular area and know it is the field for you, it makes sense to choose a major to build on the background you developed on the job. Look for a course of study that will complete your background (and perhaps even give you credit for your life experiences in some cases) to help put you in good stead to obtain a job once you have completed your degree. For example, suppose you have a weekend job working at the local veterinary clinic looking after the animals. In that case, you could choose a degree in Veterinary Science or a degree in Animal Biology. Knowing what the job of a veterinarian actually entails, you will likely have the needed persistence to complete your studies.
