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Though you have the choice of remaining an undeclared major until your junior year of College, unless you're one of the lucky few who knew what they wanted to be since age six, you've no doubt been stressing about what to study. Questions like what kind of job can I get after Graduation? What type of classes will I have to take? and Is this a subject I actually like? are all important considerations. Avoid major stress with these tips:

Get Some Core Help
"Core classes give each student a common base of knowledge and skills that are important and crucial for students," says Reverend Richard Hockman, a professor of effective oral communications at King's College (Wilkes-Barre, PA). More importantly, he adds, core classes will help you discover your interests. "They present students with an overview of areas - ones they might consider for a major."

Take Stacey Preambo, for instance. During her sophomore year of college, she was undecided about her major until she took Storytelling and Fairy Tales, a course which required the class to be on TV. After spending a day at a local station, Stacey decided that's what she wanted to do with her life.

"Seeing the people at work in the editing room showed me how much goes into producing a show," she says. "I finally knew what I wanted to do. I did some research and decided to major in mass communications. I have a core class to thank for that."

On the other hand, you'll also have some elective credits to play around with at college, perfect for testing other areas that may not be part of your required core. Perhaps you think photography may be your calling. You won't know until you take a class. The great thing about college is that there are so many options at your fingertips if you're willing to take a chance.

Other Options
Perhaps your problem is that you're torn between two very distinct areas of study. Luckily, if you plan your courses the right way (with a little help from your advisor), you may be able to have a Double major, or a major with a minor. Even more specific, some colleges offer students the opportunity to create their own major through independent study.

How Important is Your College major?
The answer really depends on your intentions once you graduate college. For example, if you plan to attend graduate school for biology, there may be requirements and prerequisites for which majoring in biology as an undergraduate would be necessary. On the other hand, law school and even medical school classes are often comprised of a variety of majors.

The important thing to remember when choosing a major is to pick something in which you'll do well, have a growing interest, and develop skills that can be translated to the workplace. For instance, majoring in English might not set you on the path for a specific Career, but it will help you master your writing and research skills, which can be applied in any field. Then again, if you want to become something specific like an accountant or a pharmacist, then naturally you should major in accounting or pharmacy.

Be Resourceful
Take advantage of career centers and libraries at your school to do some major research. The College Board Book of Majors (The College Board, 2004), for instance, boasts brief descriptions of each major and lists every college that offers them. If it's future employment that has you concerned, pick up  

College Majors

  Handbook with Real Career Paths and Payoffs (JIST Publishing, 2004). In it, you'll get real statistics on job trends, earnings, and the employment experiences of real college graduates.

Then again, speaking with students who are currently pursuing the major you're considering is a great idea as well. Find out which courses they've taken and if they've had the opportunity to work hands-on through internships. Better yet, visit some professors during office hours to ask about their subjects. Often, professors also work in the fields for which they teach, so they can give you valuable insider tips.

Most importantly, do not jump into a college major for the sake of choosing one. Be inquisitive, take a variety of courses, and follow your gut.


http://www.collegesurfing.com/blog
Dawn Papandrea is the Managing Editor of The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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