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Picking a career plan can be a stressful process that includes a lot of second-guessing. But it's something a majority of college students face. Too often students feel rushed to know exactly what they're planning to do after college from the moment they step on campus. Sweat-filled nights checking major prerequisites often make students feel like they're quest is a lost cause. What those students fail to realize is they're not alone.

Debbie Bernstein, the director of college advising at the University of Southern California, says she'd rather see students come into college without a major in mind. "The thing is you won't find a major, the major will find you," Bernstein says. "At some point it's just going to come out and bite you."

And for Bernstein, statistics tell the tale. She says on average students change majors 2.7 times during the four undergraduate years. "For every kid who comes in as a bio major and leaves as a bio major, there's a kid who changes five times," she says. Sure, that sounds great. But sometimes votes of confidence like Bernstein's words don't cut it.

Lee Jackson, a third year University of Minnesota student, changed his freshman-year focus from Greek studies and pre-med. Now he's studying clothing design. Picking a major is a "risky business," Jackson says. "You put all your energy into making that decision, but it really sucks when you don't like what you've picked."

So how do unsure students navigate it all? We've talked to experts at universities from coast to coast who compiled a list of easy steps that can help a student more happily move from undecided to declared.

Take a wide range of classes as a freshman. "The most important thing to do is explore," says Mary Moga, a University of Minnesota college of liberal arts honors adviser. There's a reason why many colleges -- especially liberal arts campuses -- have designed requirements ranging from history to art that freshmen need to take. It helps students gain an understanding of a plethora of knowledge before they start a major track.

And don't just think you can sit in the class and absorb the material until you're interested. Really engage with the class, and begin focusing on what advisers call "transferable skills" -- those being writing, developing rapport with peers and logical reasoning ability. "It's all about the skills," Bernstein says. "What it is is giving students permission to explore. We're saying, 'we've got your back.'"

Be true to your interests. Patrick Pineda, an academic adviser intern at the University of Washington's Undergraduate Advising Gateway Center, says utilizing what your passions are should bring you to a major fit for you. "Even though you might be receiving tremendous pressure from outside sources (family, money factor, job placement), you're the one who has to pursue the degree," he says.

And it's Pineda's personal experience that drives his words. "I can easily be a true testament to that because as an undergrad I wanted to be a dentist," he says. "But I took a class in American ethics studies as one of my general requirements and I totally fell in love with it. I changed my degree that quarter." Early exploration within the first two years is crucial. Many schools want their students to declare a major by the time they reach their junior year, which gives students plenty of time to explore other fields.

With those basics in mind, here's a few other pieces of advice for students to think about when mulling over what major is right for them.

1. Pay attention to what values are important to you. Advisers run into students who are apprehensive about picking a major because they're worried about the income they'll receive in the real world all the time. It's not unusual. "Values are very important," says Larry Salters, the director of the career center at the University of South Carolina at Columbia. "A student might want to earn a lot of money, to be family oriented, to be the big cheese at a company, or to be a humanitarian. It's about getting in touch with (each student's motivation)." Rachel Mattson, a peer adviser for the University of Minnesota career and community learning center, agrees. "We invite students to think about what their values are," Mattson says. "It's definitely about assessing your values and seeing how they can be met."

2. Join a club or volunteer. Clubs not only can be an easy way to make friends while on campus, they can also give students a chance to form new interest. Says Pineda, "I got involved with many student organizations on campus. Yes, you have stuff to do for your major. Yes you have stuff to do for general education, but that's not your entire education." Jackson agrees. He says working in a biology lab during his freshman year made him realize the pre-med track wasn't right for him. "Over the course of the semester I knew it wasn't for me," Jackson says. "It's just not what I wanted to do over a long period of time."

3. Stay calm. Moga says "freaking out" won't do any good about getting to where you want to be. In fact, letting time take its course while enjoying what your college has to offer is the best way to pick a major. "Maturity is a big part of it," Moga says. "You begin to know what to expect from classes. As a junior, you know things that you wouldn't know as a freshman; it's about taking advantage of opportunities." Deborah Halliday, the assistant director for the office of career services at Boston University, agrees. "I tell students to just relax; they can always change their mind," Halliday says. "Who can expect a 17- or 18-year-old to know what they want to do for the rest of their life? And who can expect them to not learn something new that might change their interests?"

4. Diversify yourself. Mattson suggests exploring different interests in selecting a major. Perhaps selecting a minor in a different field to complement your major will help balance out the educational experience a university has to offer. "A lot of people have a lot of different interest, and it's daunting because you can't narrow it down. But a minor will help you set you apart and it'll also be an outlet for you as a junior or a senior," Mattson says. "When you are thinking, 'Wow I have all these chemistry classes and it's all I'm going to do for the rest of my life,' you can then say, 'but I also have that music minor so I can go sing in the choir after chemistry.' " Salters adds that learning languages is also an important part of the diversity process for today's students. "If you can demonstrate that you've studied abroad or learned a foreign language while in college, that's a big sell these days," he says.

5. Connect/talk to advisers. Colleges have counselors and advisers for a reason. They're there to help you figure out your next move. "It's important to take some time and work with academic advisers," says Paul Timmins, the lead career service coordinator at the University of Minnesota's Career and Community Learning Center. "(Students) will be more confident in their decisions." And Halliday adds that if a student is struggling to figure out what is a best-suited future, s/he shouldn't hesitate to ask for help. "There are always ones who go to college and never have questions or anxiety -- they don't really need to see someone," Halliday says. "The sad thing is some who have anxiety and questions don't go and ask."


I am an aspiring journalist at the University of Minnesota. I'll graduate with Bachelor of Arts degrees in journalism and history in May. I've contributed to Sports Illustrated's website along with other freelancing opportunities. I've covered the Minnesota Golden Gophers football and men's hockey teams for the Minnesota Daily and am currently the sports editor there.

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