Choosing a Major Based on Personal Interests
By Courtney Phillips
Almost every high school student thinking about college has been told “do what you love in school.” Sounds like great advice, doesn’t it? Well, the problem with that advice is that it is well intentioned but largely impractical because it assumes the soon-to-be collegian knows the types of classes that will be of interest walking in the door.
This is not always the case and the classes in which a student may be interested are not always the best classes to take. For example, a student may love art and want to become a professional painter. He chooses a liberal arts university and focuses on only those classes that will be of use for a professional painter.
The problem with the “follow your bliss” advice for entering college students is that there is just not enough personal development or understanding of the world that has taken place. College students are idealists who have little, if any, grasp of how challenging things will be once they graduate with their degree. They may also feel that a degree is all they need and that nothing will keep them from getting their dream job and making a huge salary in an entry-level position. This is just not the case.
For anyone thinking of college who is unsure of what would be a useful major, consider the following:
• Choose a university with a strong liberal arts program. These programs will offer a taste of everything from literature to philosophy to art and science. For someone who is unsure, liberal arts universities offer much diversity.
• Do not declare a major or allow yourself to be pressured into something of which you are not 100% sure. There is no harm in entering a program as undeclared and it can be very helpful for you as you work to discover what will be best for you.
• Research industries and fields of study that pay well and pursue them, if they are at all appealing.
• If you are interested in a major that does not offer an entry-level salary you can afford to live on, choose it as a minor and something more practical as a major.
• Think about the things you enjoy and how you may be able to make a career of your interests. For instance, the professional painter wannabe above may find computer-generated art is a great way to express creativity and make some serious cash. Do an internship or apprenticeship to help decide.
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