How Do I Choose My College Major?

There are few decisions as important in life as what you study in college. The right decision can be the start of a long, prosperous and fulfilling career. The wrong choice, however, can lead to endless frustration, regret and lost opportunities. While there is no magic formula for choosing the correct major that will work with all students, my experience studying in three nationally recognized universities including an Ivy League Masters Program has enabled me to take part in numerous discussions regarding this topic. I hope the insights and lessons I've learned from both my own experience and my fellow students help those in the midst of this difficult decision.

Think Big Picture

One of the first things that one should do when deciding on a degree choice is to think about where you want to be 5, 10 and even 20 years down the line. If you know you want to be the CEO of an internet company 10 years from now, majoring in drama, while fun, might not be the best choice. Likewise if you want to be a doctor, choosing an English major obviously isn't going to be leading you in the right direction.

This might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many students actually have a very good idea of what they want to do after college yet don't think about what classes and undergraduate major they need to do today in order to qualify and prepare them for what they want to do after or to get into the right graduate program. If you have a specific goal in mind for a career, it is important to do your research and find out from established professionals that already are successful in that career exactly what their path was.

In some cases, such as the path of 'professional' careers such as being a lawyer or doctor, this is obvious. But in others it might not be. For instance, how does one become a nuclear physicist? How about a film director? A real estate developer or entrepreneur? There are many fascinating and exciting career choices that don't have an obvious path and it's best to do your 'homework' to figure out that path now when you're just starting out so you don't go in the wrong direction.

Do What You Love

I'm a firm believer in this statement. Each of us has our own natural strengths, abilities and talents. While there are some people that have families or parents that insist they take part in a particular course of study even if they don't want to, in my experience this rarely works out. Eventually, unless you really want something for yourself you'll either sabotage yourself or be miserable in what you're doing.

By doing what you love you accomplish a few things. First of all you ensure you'll enjoy what you're studying so even hard work won't seem like a chore. Second, you'll prevent having regrets and won't be a 40 or 50 year old looking back and saying 'if only I had studied that'. Third, by doing what you love you already know you have the natural ability and mindset to do well in that field or else you would have already found it a struggle and lost interest.

What Comes Naturally?

What if you're not one of those people that have a burning passion in one area and haven't known what you want to do since you were a kid? What if you need to figure out a 'practical' career? Most students fall into this category and the best way to approach figuring out what to major in is to keep these two things in mind. What are you naturally good at and where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Are you the kind of person that gets along easily with other people or do you prefer to be alone? Are you competitive and love the pressure of competition or do you prefer to work at your own pace? Are you an intellectual that loves to read and delve into subjects or do you prefer to learn a little about lots of things? By asking yourself these kinds of questions and then comparing them to the daily job experience of various careers you can start to get a picture of what careers you could see yourself working in. Once you know this you simply work backwards and figure out what degree will best prepare you for that career. Again, you'll need to do your 'homework' as to the path of that career.

There are many different 'theories' of how to go about choosing a career. There are career 'tests' you can take and guidance counselors to talk to. Obviously, speaking with friends and relatives and parents can also expose you to different ideas for careers. Most of all, try to find something that feels natural and is something you enjoy. It is after all, what you'll be spending the most time studying for the next few years.

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Distance Learning Degree - How it Can Hurt You

Here are 3 things to look for in a distance education degree program.

Does the College or University Only Offer Online Degrees? - Schools who only offer degrees online lose a degree of reputability. Once your school has developed a reputation as offering only online degrees. The degrees themselves start to lose their credibility. Once you go to obtain a job or continue your education with graduate school. You may find it difficult, if not impossible to continue. It is best to find a University that is a state school or at least a reputable private school. You want to be sure that the degree doesn't mention anything about you taking your courses online or through distance education. Make sure your degree will look the same as every other on campus student.

Make Sure the School is Regionally Accredited - There are many types of accreditation. The main types of accreditation are national and regional accreditation. Make sure the school you attend is regionally accredited. That is the most legitimate accreditation. With regional accreditation you can be sure that your courses will transfer more easily to other schools and that your school has passed rigorous accreditation analysis.

Cost - Schools vary widely in their tuition costs. Some state schools in low income areas might only charge $100 per credit while private schools can charge upwards of $500 per credit or more. Compare costs before you decide which school is best for you. Also, make sure the school you are attending offers financial aid for distance education learners. Some schools don't offer financial aid to their online degree seekers.

See my List of Reputable Universities With Online Degree Programs. I have spent many hours searching for legitimate, reputable colleges and universities who offer degrees online or through distance education. Most of the schools on my list are state schools and universities as well. Visit http://Gradwise.org/Online_Degree_Programs.shtml for more information.

Many People Both Young and Old Have Chosen to Go Beyond a High School EducationSo you're considering going to college to acquire the skills and knowle

So you're considering going to college to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to ride these tough economic times?

Many people both young and old have chosen to go beyond a high school education in order to earn a Bachelor's or even Master's degree that can help them get financially ahead in their life.

However, deciding on the best college program can be difficult as there are many options.

Consider Your Educational and Career Goals

One of the things to look at when choosing a college program is your educational and career goals. Picture yourself ten years from this moment and try to envision yourself set in a career or working at a job that you absolutely love.

Is this job related to internet technology, is it counseling people, is it managing people or a business, or is it figuring out where people went wrong on their taxes? If you know what you'd like to be working on in 10 years then all you have to do is find a college that fits those future goals.

Navigating the sea of colleges, though, can be very difficult.

There are traditional colleges and universities as well as online college programs that offer you the convenience of earning your degree entirely online!

If getting accepted into a traditional state or private college is what you want to do then the first place you should look is a college department website. Often colleges will have lists of courses available so that you can match up your goals to see if you like what the college has to offer.

On the other hand, there are also online colleges and universities that offer everything from technical and hospitality programs all the way to teacher certification programs. These college programs can be found relatively quickly just by searching the web for online programs in the area you want.

After all is said and done, though, chances are that you should be able to find something that you'd like to do as far as your education is concerned. Today colleges and universities are diversifying more so anyone can have the chance to obtain an educational degree very quickly and efficiently!

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