Choosing (And Sticking With) A Major

There is this interesting phenomenon on college campuses. Students are changing their majors as much as three, four, or five times throughout their college career. The average student crams four years of education into six. Needless to say, every time a student declares a new major, the student loses credits and new course requirements must be met, thus extending one's time completing a degree. The piper will be paid in  the end when student loans accrue interest, and the lenders demand their money. Major-hopping is an expensive and unproductive venture. Sadly, many students who frequently change majors are disenchanted with the field they eventually choose. They abandon their training for jobs unrelated to their major and work for a company that doesn't require a college degree. In the end, the student is no further ahead now than he or she was before entering college. Here are a few tips in deciding--and sticking with--a major.

Isolate the reason for your discontent and deal with it. Discontent drives a lot of decisions. If we are not "feeling it" one day, we will change our mind the next. This is not a useful life skill. Determine why you are discontent. Address your doubts logically.

College is hard, and there is no easy major. There is no such thing as an easy major. There are majors one is more equipped to navigate than others. If math is your thing, choosing a major that is heavy in the humanities area may be more challenging. College is designed to challenge you. It is not supposed to be easy. The premise is the cream rises to the crop. Colleges want to produce the cream that enters the workforce. Changing to a rumored "easy" major is usually misleading. You will eventually discover that the new major isn't any easier than the previous major.

Skill, and not earning potential, should be the deciding factor. Sure, you can study to be a lawyer. But if you are not a good lawyer, you will not make much money. Students are choosing higher paying careers without the ability to follow through on the curriculum requirements. You may not be cut out to be a doctor or engineer, especially if you barely passed precalculus in high school. Yes, you should consider if you can make a living from your future career. However, money--particularly tales of supposed unlimited supplies of money--should not be the ultimate driving factor.

Experiment before college. If you are still in high school, join clubs, take personality assessments, visit professionals at work, take an internship, and research your options. Your guidance counselor can help you in this area.

Know your strengths and weaknesses and plan accordingly. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. I have mild dyslexia. I turn numbers around frequently. I know accounting is not a viable career choice for me. Don't ignore the obvious. If you hate math, you may not want to pursue a career as a math teacher. However, if you like helping people, consider social work. It doesn't pay well monetarily, but there other rewards involved.

Don't do what is expected of you. Part of becoming an adult is making decisions for yourself. Your parents will not answer to your boss or pay your mortgage. They will not stay up with you at all hours of the night thinking through existential questions of why you were placed on this planet. And they should not choose your major for you either. They will not do your homework or talk to your professors. If your plan differs from your parents' plan, cordially explain your case and choose the major you want early in the college process. If you present a proposal detailing what you can do with the degree, how much you can earn, how many jobs are available in that field, you can usually win them over. I know. I have done just that. It works.

Not everyone telling you can't do it is trying to bring you down. Sometimes, those close to you provide insight that you may not see. If a professor questions your ability to be successful in a particular field, it is his or her way of trying to tell you that this is not your thing. Count on people who have more expertise than you in a career area  or more wisdom concerning the things of life to steer you in an appropriate direction.

Finally, take a break if necessary. If you are confused about what decision to make and you are not obligated to accept a scholarship immediately after high school, take a year off to decide what to do. Again, you have to face the consequences of your actions. This is not a license to party or live off mom and dad's couch. Volunteer. Join a program that sends people overseas. Build your professional network and find people who will let you shadow them at work. You may find what you want to do. Then, you can go to college with a set goal in mind.