How to Pick the Right Major for Your Future Career

Students Have Multiple Factors To Consider When Applying To College…

The last two years of high school are filled with responsibilities like SATs, advanced classes, and community involvement. As if that doesn’t make them busy enough, students also need to begin considering their future careers. Making long-term plans can be scary and a little unnerving, but it’s vital to the college admissions process because this decision directly correlates to choosing a college and a major.  

Depending on what career you’re planning to pursue, you need to make sure you’re choosing a college that will help you create solid, career-oriented goals and propel you towards a successful future. Colleges do this by providing their students with a quality education, professional connections, and internship and job opportunities to launch you into your career.

When you’re choosing colleges to apply for, it’s important to keep specific, career-related  components in mind as well as possible majors. Multiple resources exist for high school students who aren’t sure about which career or major they would like to pursue, so if you don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place!

WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN THIS ARTICLE:

• Why You Should Think About Your Career Early
• How to Decide on the Right Career for You
• How Your College Major Prepares You for Your Career
• Picking the Right Major for Your Career
• The Connection Between Your Major and Career

Why You Should Think About Your Career Early

High school goes by quickly; those four years are packed with busy class schedules, extracurricular activities, sports, and community service hours. Giving some thought to what career you’d like to pursue will take some dedication and effort, but the earlier you start, the better.

This is because, when you’re choosing colleges to apply for, you need to have a basic idea of what field you’d like to work in. This choice can be as broad as you like, especially if you’ve rarely given your future career much thought, but make sure you have some career options in mind when you sit down to apply to college.

Another perk of picking a career early is that you’ll be able to to pursue internships in your targeted field, giving you a head start on your career. Internships in a career that you’re interested in will look great on college applications and future job applications alike, showcasing you as a driven and goal-oriented student.

Picking a career early will help you choose a major, pursue career-related internships, and create an application that clearly highlights your goals and the direction you want to go in life.

How To Decide On The Right Career For You

If you haven’t given any thought to the career you’d like to pursue, you’re not alone. The majority of high school students don’t know what they want to do until the middle of their college years, which works well for some people because everyone’s career situation is unique.

However, you should still make a point to consider your career decision early, and there are multiple ways to expedite the process.

EXPLORE YOUR PASSIONS

The best place to start when it comes to picking a career is focusing on what classes and activities you enjoy.

• What is your favorite class?
• Do you enjoy a specific extracurricular activity?
• Is there a hobby you enjoy that you can envision yourself doing for a living?

Write down your answers to these questions. As simple as these may seem, they’re actually a great way to start thinking about what career you’d like to pursue. Your answers will highlight the simple facts about how you enjoy spending your time; this is important because you need to enjoy your career, at least a little bit. Choose something you can find joy in!

CHOOSE YOUR LIFESTYLE

Next, you’ll want to think about the kind of lifestyle you expect after college. Certain careers inherently pay more than others, so it’s important that you consider how much money you want to make, where you want to live, and what kind of life you want to lead.

• Do you envision yourself living in a city or a more rural area?
• Do you want to have a career with a clear ladder towards success, or are you excited to carve your own path?
• Do you expect an expensive apartment or house, or are you okay with modest accommodations?
• Is it important that your job comes with benefits like a 401k, health insurance, dental, etc?
• Do you plan to start a family, and will you need to support them through your career?

How you answer these questions is important, because they’ll help you figure out what kind of college you should attend, what you should major in, and what career you should pursue. Most importantly, they will help you understand what financial situation you need to create in order to maintain a stable standard of living.

For example, careers like Finance, Marketing, and Journalism all have an average starting salary between $50K and $70K per year, and the majority of internship and job opportunities for those careers will exist in large cities. Computer Science on the other hand can have a starting salary upwards of $100k, depending on where you live. However, you might not enjoy that career, making the higher pay less worthwhile.

Of course, you can major in any of these areas and find solid work, but if you’re interested in becoming a company executive or beginning “the corporate climb”, the best opportunities will be in high-demand industries and located in business hubs like New York City and Chicago, or even cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.

DECIDE ON A PURPOSE

Everyone should have long-term goals, regardless of their career. It’s important for you to know what work will fuel your passions and sense of purpose.

• Think about the long-term experience of your dream job. Will it be backed by your own purpose and desire to grow?
• Would your work feel worthwhile and reflect your passions?
• What career do you think you can find purpose in?
• How will your chosen career serve others or express your values?

It’s important to have a purpose for your chosen career. Decide how you want to use your skills to better yourself, the world around you, and the people you end up working with.

ASSESS YOUR SKILLS

Finally, you’ll want to consider your skills.

• What activities are you good at?
• What classes do you have the best grades in?
• Do you have any specific skills like drawing, public speaking, or dancing?

You want to make sure that you choose a career where you have the potential to grow in your skills, and eventually become great at what you do. For example, if you’re not great in math or science, you might not want to become an engineer. On the other hand, if you find that you thrive in the arts and enjoy working on computers, you might want to consider pursuing a career in graphic design.

Deciding what career to pursue is about putting the right pieces about yourself together. It’s almost like a puzzle: look at your many skills and interests, add them together, and you begin to understand what career is right for you!

How Your College Major Prepares You For Your Career

Your major in college directly affects the kind of work you’ll be eligible for when you graduate. The major you choose is the gateway to finding your passion for your career, connections in the professional workplace, and ultimately, the job you’ll get after college.

TARGETED STUDIES

Your college major is simply the umbrella that contains the specific classes you can take. For example, if you major in Theatre Arts, you’ll have the opportunity to take classes like set design, acting, or playwrighting. Likewise, a Theatre Arts major probably won’t be able to take a class in Advanced Biology. Students who have declared a specific major are given priority for classes in their field. If you want priority in Advanced Biology, you’ll need to consider making Biology either your major or minor.

Colleges sometimes design college majors to set their students up for successful careers in that field. With the specific and targeted classes that your major will give you, you’ll be able to see if you’re skilled enough in that area to make it your career. Through assignments and group projects, you’ll know pretty quickly whether or not that’s the career that’s right for you.

CONNECTIONS

Your professors will be your first connections to the professional workplace. Professors often write recommendation letters for their students who are trying to find internships or jobs in their field. In addition to your professors, the work you’ll complete with your classmates could open up numerous opportunities down the road.

Connections always lead to more connections.

As you and your classmates graduate from college with the same degree, having taken the same classes and applied for similar internships, you’ll eventually all go your separate ways. However, later in your career path, you’ll be able to reconnect with your classmates which could lead to further job opportunities and lifelong partnerships.

Connections are everywhere, and networking is one of the most important things when it comes to transitioning out of college and into the professional workplace. Your classes in college are your first step towards a solid and reliable network.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Most jobs require certain degrees and majors to ensure every applicant is qualified and eligible for the job.

For example, let’s say you’re looking for a marketing internship on any given job finder. Under “Applicant Requirements”, you see that most employers are looking for a student who is currently studying anything related to marketing, business, or communications. If you majored in Zoology, your chances of getting an interview for that position may be slim to none.

More than requirements, the required classes that pertain to your major will help you develop the specific skill sets in order to do your job successfully. When business majors graduate, they can do almost anything in the professional workplace because their major was very broad and covered a lot of useful skill sets involving basic administrative work, marketing, and financial studies. On the other hand, a Wildlife Conservation major will have the perfect, targeted skill set needed to become a park ranger or conservationist.

However, many majors are like business: broad enough to sharpen your skill sets to help you gain employment in many different fields. You can choose from a countless career paths with a degree in Business, Finance, English, History, or the Sciences, and that’s only a handful of your options.

Ultimately, your major opens a set of options for you. While many students wonder if major matters anymore, choosing a specific area of study is the most streamlined approach to entering the workplace. You’ll graduate with specific, targeted training, connections to future jobs, and the skill set to go into a field that you’re passionate about.

Picking The Right Major For Your Career

Once you have a solid idea of the kind of career you’d like to pursue, you’ll want to start thinking about the best majors that will get you there.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Research other professionals in your field and find out what they majored in while they were in college. Using someone who is successful in your chosen career as a template can be very useful as you can see a similar path to follow. Look up possible internships and jobs you might apply for in the future and what kind of majors they require.

Think about the big picture: how far can you see yourself going in your career? Research what kind of training, connections, and prerequisites you’ll need in order to take the right step towards your future.

TALK WITH YOUR COUNSELOR

Don’t be afraid to use the resources that your school has provided for you. Set up a meeting with your counselor and brainstorm the career you’re thinking about pursuing and what major would be best for you. Your counselor will be able to provide you with an experienced perspective and give you something new to think about.

If you don’t have access to a reliable counselor, you can also use the Internet as a resource. WeAdmit’s professional counselors are always standing by to help you lay out a plan for your future. We can consider what you bring to the table, give you a wider perspective, and help you choose the best major for your career.

MEET ALUMNI

Another excellent way to decide which major would be best for you is to meet alumni from colleges that majored in an area of study you’re considering. This way, you can ask them what their experience was like and what they wish they had done differently.

Alumni networks exist for more than reunions and retreats too; they are valuable tools for prospective students. Having a connection to someone that went before you is invaluable, and could help you decide on a major and a college.

PURSUE INTERNSHIPS

Finally, if you want to be even more sure about the major you’ve chosen, pursue summer internships during your final years of high school or first few years of college. Participating in internships during high school will give you a good idea of what working in your chosen career is like, and you’re likely to meet other students who can give you advice on what major to choose.

Most colleges don’t require you to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year. Utilize your first few years of college to explore your options. Pursue internships that are either year-round or during the summer to get hands-on experience in your chosen field.

The Connection Between Your Major And Career

Your college major and career will be directly correlated in many ways. Your major sets you up for a streamlined experience, starting from your first day of class to your first day at work. Use your time in high school to think about what career you can see yourself pursuing.

Take a look at your class schedule, your likes and dislikes, and your passions to find the right career for your future. Once you choose a career, you’ll be better equipped to choose a major. Your major will provide you with training, connections, and opportunities to a related field, so make sure you put some time and effort into this decision.

Of course, it’s also perfectly okay to change your mind once you’ve started college. Many students find that they enjoy another area of study better than their initial major, and eventually find their dream job that way. There are so many ways to approach your college life and career. If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed, feel free to check out the other resources we have available, or even sit down for a free call with one of our WeAdmit college counselors. We’d love to help guide you as you begin this next stage in your future!

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