How to Choose a Major!
The decision of selecting a major is one of the decisions you will make once you are in the university. With all the choices available in the major, it is natural to feel confused and ask questions like how to choose a major that reflects your interests, strengths, and longer-term career goals.
In this guide, we shall take you through tested and tried steps on how to choose a major with confidence in 2025. No matter which area you are interested in studying (STEM, business or humanities), this course will teach you how to choose a major at university in a manner that places you in a position to succeed.
Why Knowing How to Choose a Major Matters
The relevance of making the right choice of college major can have a lasting impact on your educational progress and professional life trajectory, not to mention life fulfilment.
A major will assist you in developing the ability to work at the level required of you, the employment opportunities that you can grab due to the enhanced college life, and the satisfaction that you will have with the college life in general.
Learning more about how to choose a major at university will help you avoid getting lost and following an easier academic and career path.
How Do You Choose a Major? Key Considerations
Start with You: Interests and Strengths Matter
Interests drive engagement: When students focus on what they love, there is a higher likelihood that they will achieve better academic results.
Strengths give you momentum: They serve as a source of energy.
Personality or career quizzes, Such as Myers-Briggs or ACT Inventories, have been tried.
Check in a journal, talk to friends, inquire with educators: They are familiar with you, and have a way of identifying trends that may not be evident to you.
Think Career + ROI: Real Goals, Real Returns.
There is nothing wrong with being concerned about money- labour markets and ROI matter.
Engineering majors top the ROI charts, but other creative careers are also highly profitable and rewarding.
Explore career paths, as well as majors: internships, job shadowing, or volunteer work give you the chance to “test-drive” fields, not just majors.
Explore Before You Commit
Most schools don’t require declaring a major until sophomore year—use that time wisely.
Take some elective courses in different areas and use general ed courses to explore as many subjects as possible to find out what interests you.
Consider a double major or a minor to keep options open; for example, your interests might coexist with your practical career choices.
Understand the Workload and Fit
Ask: What is the level of rigour of coursework? Does the heavy load suit your way of academic work?
Specific STEM majors require intensive labs or prerequisite courses- you may have to declare early.
Determine how long it takes to switch in your industry, if this is the norm.
Seek Support and Advice
Career counsellors and college advisors may be your guides.
Ask other teachers, peers, family and even alumni via LinkedIn to get a perspective.
Parents desire your success - learn to strike a balance: listen, and do not be pawns.
When You're Not Sure: It’s Okay to Be Undecided
It's perfectly normal to start college ‘undeclared’.
Change is natural - many students change majors one or more times, and this can even lead to an increase in their graduation rate.
Research + mentor = advancement.
Special Cases: STEM, Pre-Med, Business, Engineering
Students in majors such as STEM fields may need strong performance in introductory courses (math, chemistry, biology) to stay on schedule.
Engineering and STEM are high ROI and also high workload- you won't expect value unless you are willing to work hard.
Business degrees are general, offering a good ROI and flexibility (finance, marketing, management).
Pre-med directions require good planning and advanced consideration, learn the prerequisites and scheduling.
Tools to Simplify the Decision
Interest-mining tools such as BERTopic can clearly correlate your preferences with the program.
Easy quizzes, like a pick a major quiz, can eliminate your possibilities and provide something to jump-start you.
Write down a SWOT list of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats when comparing majors.
How to Write an Assignment: Steps to Academic & Career Success
How to Choose a Major at University: Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Self-Reflection
Take time to learn about your knowledge of personality, values and motivation. List out what excites you and what you do not like. It is this personal understanding that forms the basis for choosing a major.
Step 2: Research Different Majors
Gain insight into the details of the curriculum, coursework, and professional avenues for the various majors. Commonly, universities give detailed descriptions online. This helps in understanding how to select your major at university, based on realistic expectations.
Step 3: Take Major Selection Quizzes
Interactive quizzes designed for prospective students help clarify interests and potential academic fits. Several platforms provide the notorious How to pick my major quiz tests to help you out.
Step 4: Talk to Current Students and Professionals
Connectivity with students as well as industry professionals provides new insights into their majors and careers, offering learning experiences that would not be taught in the classroom.
Step 5: Test Classes or Internships
Take introductory classes or take internships in your areas of interest. This is a practical guide on how to choose your major and minor subjects.
Step 6: Make an Informed Decision
Consider your passions, skills and research on employability and choose your major with confidence.
Summary Table: How to Choose Your Major at University
Step | What You Do | Why It Helps |
1. Reflect | List interests & strengths | Aligns you with subjects you enjoy |
2. Explore | Take varied courses | Test the real fit before commitment |
3. Research | Look into careers & ROI | Balances passion with practicality |
4. Talk | Advisors, mentors, peers | Picks up blind spots you miss |
5. Evaluate | Workload, timeline, flexibility | Avoids surprises down the road |
6. Use Tools | Quizzes, interest-mining | Narrow choices without pressure |
7. Reassess | Be open to change | Graduation rates can improve with flexibility |
Specialised Tips for Popular Majors
How to Choose a STEM Major
STEM subjects need critical thinking and an interest in exploring. When considering how to select a science major or wondering how to choose your engineering major, it is essential to assess your talents in areas such as math, physics, and technology.
Careers in the field are promising in terms of job growth, which justifies your interest in the field.
How to Choose a Business Major
Business majors offer flexibility in career prospects in the fields of finance, marketing, and management. To understand how to select a business major, do your homework in courses, and determine whether you excel in dynamic leadership-related contexts.
How to Choose a Pre-Med Major
Pre-med requires biology, chemistry and challenging coursework. Other reasons to consider when determining whether to pursue a pre-med major at San Diego State include a commitment to an interesting and demanding career path within the medical profession.
What If You Have No Interests? How to Choose a Major When You Have No Interests
Not knowing what you love is natural, but there are ways to decide on what to major in:
The liberal arts as a floating background
Taking general education courses to find out potential interests.
Playing personality and profession tests helps reveal hidden strengths.
Seeking counsel in the presence of mentors and counsellors.
How to Choose Your Major on Reddit: Insights from Real Students
The Reddit forums offer honest advice and insights on how to select a major. Reading the threads can provide suggestions, the main advantages and disadvantages, and guidance from people facing similar choices.
How to Choose a Major and Minor
A complementary minor with your major will complete your studies. Cross-train, combining skill areas you have with other related areas, or learn something brand-new. Most people draw tactical guidance on how to choose your major and minor to have a diversified career.
Final Thoughts
Decisions on how to choose a major do not have to become life-changing. Consider it as selecting a path, not a sentence- it can change, explore, mix, and develop. When you do your best to target what you love, are good at and will be beneficial towards your future, you will end up with an effective decision.
Rely on the tools, quizzes, advisors, and curiosity, being practical. And do not forget that a graduate often does not land a job that directly relates to their major. It is your effort, adaptability, and drive that matter.
How to Write a Thesis Statement: The Ultimate Guide for Students and Researchers
FAQs:
1. How do I choose a major if I have multiple interests?
Consider major disciplines that would provide interdisciplinary opportunities or ones that would allow an option to explore and then specialise. Electives are helpful as well.
2. What is the best way to pick a major quiz?
Search for quizzes that assess your personality, strengths, and career goals, similar to those available on university and career-related search sites.
5. Can I change my major later if I don’t like it?
Most universities accept the transfer of majors after registration, although this may impact the graduation period.
4. How can I choose a major that matches future job market trends?
Major industries with high growth potential should also be researched to identify a major that aligns with employment opportunities, such as healthcare, technology, green energy, and data science.
5. What if I am undecided about choosing a major?
Start with general education courses, obtain advising and utilise personality and career assessment to discover your direction.
