How to Choose a College Major

1. Define your interests  

What do you like? Your personal interests—both academic and extracurricular—can give you clues about majors that will keep you motivated. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, students tend to perform better when they are interested in their course topics. 

When thinking about what you like, think beyond the classroom. If you’re passionate about topics like fitness, travel, psychology, technology, or storytelling, there’s likely a study path that connects to it. For example, a love for travel could lead to international business or hospitality management, while an interest in fitness might point you toward sports science or nutrition. 

Sometimes, it’s actually easier to begin by defining what you don’t like. Ruling out subjects or tasks that bore you can help narrow down your options. If you know you struggle to stay focused during science classes, a biology-related major might not be your best fit. Eliminating what doesn’t work gives you more clarity on what might. 

2. Identify your strengths 

When choosing a college major, don’t just focus on what you like, also consider what you’re naturally good at. 

Take a moment to reflect on your strengths. Are you great with numbers, a strong communicator, an organized planner, or a team leader? Your talents and learning style can help you succeed in certain majors more than others. 

If you tend to do well in math and logical reasoning, you might thrive in fields like engineering, finance, or computer science. If you excel in writing and expressing ideas, consider majors like journalism, communications, or education. 

Personality and strength assessments like CareerOneStop Assessment or the 16Personalities test (based on the Myers-Briggs framework) are widely used by students and professionals to get insights about their talents. 

Another way to know your academic strengths is to look at your high school grades or other exams you have taken in the past. 

3. Check the coursework 

Before choosing a major, take some time to explore the actual courses you’ll be studying.  

Every major comes with a set curriculum, including core subjects and electives. Go to the university’s website and look at the course list for the majors you’re considering. Read through the course descriptions—not just the titles—of both the required (foundation) courses and the optional ones.  

Do the topics sound interesting? Can you picture yourself spending several semesters learning about them?  

This step will give you a clearer idea of what to expect and help you avoid choosing a major based solely on the name. If the classes don’t excite or motivate you, it might be worth exploring other options. 

4. Explore career paths  

It’s helpful to understand where your major could lead you after college. While some degrees prepare you for specific jobs—like nursing, architecture, or engineering—others are more flexible and open-ended, such as sociology or communication. 

Use online tools like LinkedIn or career websites to search for common jobs related to different majors. You can also look up average salaries and future job demands.  

Another great resource is What Can I Do With This Major? This resource features detailed profiles for over 100 college majors, including typical career paths, common types of employers, and practical tips to boost your job readiness. It’s especially useful if you’re exploring how your academic interests can connect to real-world opportunities. 

Remember, your major doesn’t lock you into one career forever—but it can open important doors. 

5. Talk to advisors and professionals on the field 

Don’t try to figure it all out on your own—ask for help! Academic advisors can guide you through the majors available at your university and help you understand what each one involves.  

It’s also helpful to talk to professionals in fields you’re interested in to get a realistic idea of what the job is really like. Ask them: 

• What did they study? 

• What would they recommend for someone in your position? 

• What kind of tasks do they handle in their job? 

• What does a typical day at work look like for them? 

• What do they enjoy most—and least—about their job? 

These conversations can give you real-world insight that you can’t get from reading course catalogs. You might even discover career paths you hadn’t considered before.