Major
C
Adi Kurniawan/iStock/Getty Images
Electing Your
By NATASA MILAS
As students get ready to embark on the journey of higher education, choosing a major is a great opportunity to explore, selfreflect and, ultimately, to enjoy the start of a pivotal process. 14 EDITION 2 2022
hoosing a major is an overwhelming process. Often, students find themselves asking and answering questions like what interests them, what would they like to learn in the course of four years and what are their career options in a specific major. If you have a penchant for drawing or theater, you will most likely be interested in declaring art or drama as your major. If you know you want to study law or medicine, you will choose a major that will help you get into a law school or medical school. While most colleges will ask you to declare a major in their application, you may also have the option to have your major “undeclared.” It is completely natural to explore different subjects and take general courses in your first and even second year of studies. This helps students gain basic introduction in a variety of subjects and may shed a light on the choice of the major. No matter how sure or unsure you are in your decision, remember that you are not bound to your decision right away. Once you are at your college or university, you can speak to an adviser about changing your major. As you begin your search, talk to advisers at the EducationUSA centers before coming to the United States to study, as well as to academic advisers at universities before declaring your major. Whatever you ultimately pick, the general advice is to “love your major.” Excerpts from an interview with EducationUSA adviser, Aastha Virk Singh, on electing a major: What should students look for when choosing a major? What are some of the factors to consider in the process? Let’s start with understanding what is a major. Your college major is a subject that you
will take the majority of your courses in and develop a sound understanding in. It is the area that you will graduate in after you have completed your required courses. Most students will also take general education requirements in the first or second year of a four-year education as this allows for a holistic approach to education and students gain a better understanding of the world. Some students might also choose a minor in addition to their major. A minor is coursework in which you explore another field, but not as deeply and widely as your major. A minor can complement your major. For example, a major in public relations with a minor in business administration or a minor in a language. Some schools allow you to take a double major where you complete two majors but it does add to your workload and might not be for everyone. Questions to ask yourself as you choose a major: 1. What kind of a life do you envision? 2. Where do you see yourself working? 3. What are your values, what motivates you, what is important to you, what are your priorities and what matters to you? 4. What are your academic strengths and where do you get your best grades? Which subjects do you love to learn and which are your favorite classes? 5. What activities do you enjoy at school or outside of school? Assessing your aptitude (what you can do well), your interests (what you like to do) and your personality (who you are and what is important to you) will help you understand the kinds of subjects and careers you might be interested in pursuing. Is it okay to not have a major right away
