Choosing a College Major

Does thinking about your major make you stressed? Does it seem like you’re the only one who is still uncertain about your major? Did you pick a major because you had to, but you’re not sure it fits you? Are you sure about your major, but not sure what you can do with it? You’re not alone. Research shows that up to 80% of college students are unsure about their choice of major, and half will change their major at least once.

Making a sound decision about your major requires an understanding of yourself as well as knowledge of majors and careers. Here are steps you can take to choose a major that fits your skills and personality, and figure out what careers it may lead to. Visit the Career Development office for coaching on each step in the decision making process.

Know yourself
Make a list of 3-5 of your personal characteristics in each of the areas below:
• Interests (What would you like to study?)
• Personality (What do you know about your unique ways of responding to the world around you?)
• Values (What matters to you in your work?)
• Skills and Abilities (What ways of thinking or skills do you excel at?)
• Strengths (from your StrengthsFinder assessment, available on theRock)

You can also visit Career Development to take a formal assessment.

Research majors and courses
Make a list of 3 or 4 majors you’re considering, using the list in Northwestern’s catalog.
• Which majors match your interests?
• Are these majors compatible with your personality style?
• Are your values consistent with these majors?
• Are the courses required for these majors interesting? Be sure to check out the college catalog for descriptions of majors and courses.
• Do you have the academic ability to complete the course and major requirements?
• How long will it take to complete the degree? Is the time frame acceptable to you? Use the curriculum charts and curriculum planning guides available on myUNW to answer this question.

Learn about careers
Many graduates will have successful careers in fields that seem unrelated to their major. Remember, as a college graduate you will have gained not only knowledge, but skills and abilities that are marketable and desired by many employers. Not all majors lead to a specific career, but all majors lead to a degree, which is a prerequisite for most professional employment. Since so many options will be open to you as a college graduate, it is important to have some ideas of the types of careers that interest you.

Visit an online career information website like O*NET (www.onetonline.org).
• Look up occupations based on your interests, values, or skills.
• Make a list of 10-15 possibilities that look intriguing.
• Note the skills, abilities, and knowledge required for occupations that interest you.

Make an Initial Decision
Put your list of majors, your list of careers, and your list of personal characteristics side by side.

Rank your choice of majors from highest to lowest considering:
• Which major seems the best preparation for the most preferred careers on my list?
• Which majors and careers are consistent with my interests, personality, and values?
• What electives or minors would enhance my preparation for my most preferred careers?

Remember that your major does not have to relate to a specific career. Many occupations will be possible with whatever major you choose.

Implement and Evaluate the Decision
• If you need to change your current major, file a major change form with the registrar’s office.
• Continue to learn all you can about the major and related careers.
• Plan for internships and work experiences that will enhance your skills and knowledge as well as confirm or change your decision.
• Remember, a major and occupation are not the same thing. Continue to explore occupations to confirm that your major is a good fit for your career goals.
• Be open to change if further evaluation indicates.

Meet with a career counselor to develop a plan for achieving your career goals. Make an appointment with Career Development to get started.