What Should She Major In?

My best words of advice for you — and the many, many other college students experiencing similar feelings? The three R’s: relax, reflect, research. College is a time to really discover what the adult within you wants to do with your life — or at least the next phase of your life. Use this first year of college to really explore who you are, what you like, and what you want to do. Experiment. Take a variety of classes. Talk with older students in different majors. Meet with professors and talk with them about careers. Go to the career services office of your college and take some career interest assessments. Research potential majors, careers, and jobs. Join a variety of student organizations.

And don’t feel pressured to make any decisions right away. Most first-year students take very similar courses — regardless of their major — as most colleges have a set of foundation or core courses that all students must complete. Yes, some students enter college knowing exactly what they want to major in — perhaps even knowing their career goals too — but that doesn’t mean you have to jump to any decision right away.

What should you do? Consider trying out for a small role in a college play. If you’re not taking one of these courses this semester, consider taking a public speaking or theatre class next semester; even if you decide to go in a different career direction, learning how to be comfortable speaking in front a group will be invaluable skill to master. You should also examine what it is about the dramatic arts that most interests you; this assessment will help you better understand yourself and other potential careers/majors should you decide not to major in dramatic arts.

For more advice and resources, please read my article published on Quintessential Careers: Choosing a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path.

And for all you first-year students trying to make the transition from home and high school to college, read this article on Quintessential Careers: Your First Year of College: 25 Tips to Help You Survive and Thrive Your Freshman Year and Beyond.