How To Pick A College Major As A Freshman
My first bit of advice is: don’t. Unless your college/university requires you to declare a major as a freshman, it is better to wait.
I know waiting is not possible for everyone at every university. I was lucky my university didn’t require freshmen or first year students to declare their major, and this is more common among private liberal arts universities than at larger state schools. My university did not require a firm declaration of major until the second semester of the sophomore year.
My younger sister, on the other hand, did have to declare her major as a freshman and then ended up changing it twice. My bone to pick is of course not with the students but with college administrations who require this decision by making their curriculums so restrictive that you must commit within the first year.
When I graduated high school, I thought I knew what I wanted to major in. That major had even been a massive part of my research when applying to different universities. Well I can tell you that is not the major I ended up with. My plan had been to major in international relations, or political science with an international focus with either a double major or minor in Middle Eastern Studies. My actual degree is in religion with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies.
Depending on your viewpoint, I either shifted my interest to the opposite end of the spectrum or took a roundabout way of studying what I originally planned. In studying religion, I most certainly ended up studying politics, but I also studied philosophy, language, history, and literature. As far as I see it, a degree in religion gave me a wider breadth of education than I would have gotten with a simple political science degree.
My degree was not considered practical by most people, but just because they did not see the value in the degree does not mean the value wasn’t there. The degree I chose was fulfilling and inspiring for me, which is what I valued and wanted in a degree. The path I thought I might take when I started that program is different from the one I am currently on, but my degree still highly influences the way I think and perceive the world.
But how do you pick a major that will fulfill you?
1. Go to the events and lectures hosted by departments that you are interested in.
The best way to get to know if you will like a department is to see how they function and what they promote. What type of lecturers do they invite? What are the professors like? If they host prospective major events, go to them and ask questions.
2. Take classes that can serve dual purposes.
Almost all colleges/universities have core class requirements regardless of your degree. If your core requirements are more flexible, then use them as opportunities to scope out other majors/departments. If you find something you like, you can repurpose that class towards the major, if not, then it's a core class completed and it's not a useless credit.
3. Look through current and past course catalogs.
Which course titles/descriptions catch your attention? What subjects do they fall under? Why do those courses seem interesting to you? Is there a pattern to what classes look appealing?
4. What do you love?
Often you hear the phrase: “if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life.” That is a lie. The reality is doing what you love means you will work harder, but having your heart in the game makes it worthwhile.
Study what you love. You will be told all the time to have a practical degree that has a clear path to a job and a career, but the reality is: nothing in this world is guaranteed, and especially not because you followed the “proper” path to a given end. Study what you love, because the way things are now, you could study business at an ivy or history at a state school and still end up flipping burgers. Studying something that doesn’t interest you or you actively dislike is not a path that will bring satisfaction and being unhappy in your career because you chose something “practical” is not worth the energy when it could be directed somewhere you are passionate.
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Meet The Writer!
Hi! I’m Madeline Jefferson. I am a freelance writer, editor, and designer who has a wide breadth of experience and knowledge on many subjects including: fiction writing, religion, law, politics, history, literature, chronic illness, and mental health. I have a B.A. in Religion and Middle Eastern Studies from Washington and Lee University, and am beginning a Masters in Publishing through George Washington University. As a freelancer I offer services such as: blog writing, copywriting, ghostwriting, manuscript editing, and print and digital design. You can find me on: LinkedIn; Twitter, Instagram; and on my website: https://www.madelinejefferson.com/.
