reader. writer.

So if you read my previous post for those who really are exploring majors, you know I suggested there may not be a perfect answer and that there is no way to control time and space to be confident you will never regret your choice. (I prefer to learn from past actions rather than waste too much time on regret, btw.) So I guess what I really want you to do is to start the process of exploring majors by taking a deep breath and accepting that the path forward may be full of twists and turns (and that it’s okay if it is!).

Given that perspective, here are a few ideas that might help as you seek to identify a major that might work for you.

1. Take some time to look over all the possible majors at your college, typically listed on a central webpage for most universities. If any of them are unfamiliar to you, read further to get a feel for them. It is rare to start college already knowing every single possible major out there, so it helps to investigate your options rather than rule anything out just because it is unknown to you.

2. Based on that review, start to compile list of majors that might be of interest.

3. You usually can find for each major a list of required classes. It can help to read over that list, possibly digging further to see a description in the course catalog, to give yourself the chance to imagine what it might be like to pursue this major.

4. Try talking to students and faculty in those majors. Ask them why they chose that major, what they liked about it, what challenged them, etc. Sometimes these conversations happen naturally–someone in your dorm, someone in a club, for example, or you can make an effort to attend a club meeting or special event related to that major. A few ways to reach faculty include contact numbers and information on the department website, open house events, and department programs.

5. If possible, sit in on classes in those majors (ask the professor for permission). I know for me, this would take courage to set up, but it could really help as you narrow your list of options. I also know that it may seem that the solution is just to take a class in each of the majors you are exploring, but you typically won’t have time to do that and still complete your degree in four years, and even if you take one class in a department, that one class may not give you the full picture of what the major is like.

As you explore, it’s a good time to consider what might make a major work for you.

I’m trying to word that as carefully as possible because I think this can really vary for everyone. That’s also why it can be frustrating when you have friends who seem to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives already. Just accept that what works for them may not be the same as what works for you. You are the only one who is good at being you—embrace that.

So, with that in mind, consider some of the reasons why a major might work for you:

1.  Interest: You find the subject interesting.

2. Practicality: You find the major practical or helpful in some way.

3. Skill/talent/experience: For various reasons, you are comfortable with the subject and can navigate the workload effectively. Please note that you don’t have to get all As in a subject for that to be the right fit for you for a major. Sure, don’t fail out, and try to get the best grades you can, but you are actually in college to learn, not to prove that you already know everything, so it’s okay not to get perfect grades from day one.

4. Coursework/course delivery: You like the way the major is set up, the way most classes will be taught (tests vs. papers, discussion vs. lecture, hands-on vs. philosophical, etc.)

5. The community: You connect well with the other students and the faculty.

6. Likelihood of success: You believe you have a good chance of succeeding in this major. Also, this can be a reason to switch majors from one that made sense originally, but after giving it a sincere try, you aren’t happy in it or successful in it, not in the ways you hoped.

7. Identity: This major reflects something about you, your values or interests, in a way that is uplifting.

8. Career plans: You can articulate a few ways this major could lead to a job or further education that might work for you. I realize this sounds like #2, but it’s not quite the same—mostly, it just helps if you can articulate even vaguely what you will do next after college, even if you change your mind later on.

You might find it worthwhile to consider your possible majors with each of the above in mind—journal about it, talk it over, imagine yourself in each major. Be aware that finding the right major is not really about finding the one that scores highest in all of those areas for you—only you know which of the reasons I listed above is most important to you.

Finally, one way I like to think about a major is to find something that you would enjoy doing for the next five years. Quit thinking about forever—be aware of next steps, sure, but you, the you of right now, can only know what makes sense for you for the next five years.

And maybe as you move through the college years, ideally experiencing success in the major, making connections and friends, gaining insights and strategies that you can carry over into other endeavors, the path forward may come slowly into view, including ways to change directions … because the good news and the scary news is that you have the rest of your life to explore what works for you.