Q: "I'm having trouble choosing a major! I have a lot of different interests and I'm scared of committing to just one. What's the best way to choose?" --Katie, 18, Panama, FL
A: Choosing a major can be overwhelming when there are so many interesting fields of study — it’s hard to narrow it down to just one! One of the things I find really helpful when I’m having a tough time making decisions is to make lists of pros and cons. So write down each of the majors that interest you, and under each one list what you like and don’t like about it, as well as the possible careers you might like to pursue. You may want to consider which majors will best prepare you for the job you want to get out of college.
And you don’t have to pick just one major — lots of students double major, or graduate with a major and minor, so that’s an option if you think you can handle the extra coursework. Also, talk to your adviser about the possibility of a specialized major. It’s becoming more and more popular for schools to offer interdisciplinary study — majors that combine classes from a cross section of departments. So, depending on your particular interests, you may be able to design your own major or find an interdisciplinary area that captures all your passions. And even if you start a major and realize at some point that it’s just not working out, you can change your mind and pick another discipline. It may mean an extra semester or year of school before you graduate (which isn’t ideal); however, if you’re spending time and money to go to college, then you want to make sure you get the most out of your experience by majoring in something you enjoy!
--Jaye J. Fenderson, College Expert
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