Finding a major can be hard, even stress-inducing, but with these tips and tricks, it doesn’t have to be.
Oftentimes you may hear students stressing out over whether or not they picked the right major, or if they even should pick a major. Rochelle Blatter, a career coach and counselor, has a few thoughts when it comes to picking your major.
The truth is there is no specific or best time students need to declare a major. Academic Adviser Chandler Whitlock said what’s most important for students is that they find the program that best suits them.
“I’ve found students are most successful when they’ve found a program that matches their interests and is preparing them for the career they want to pursue after graduation,” Whitlock said.
Whitlock said students should be confident in the major they select before committing to it.
Blatter said, “Students need to know it is OK to not know what you want to major in when first coming to college.”
Blatter encourages those students to take their time and have fun exploring different majors. This is recommended for freshmen or sophomore students just starting their college journey.
Blatter said while it may be easier for some to find motivation when it comes to picking a major, students should look into joining clubs, participating in volunteer opportunities and taking introductory-level courses. With this method, students are better able to gauge what piques their interest.
“The best place to start is asking for help,”
Academic Adviser Chandler Whitlock
Career assessments are another resource for students to gauge what their interests may be. Dixie State University’s Career Center offers three different types of career assessments to help students discover what they may want to major in.
Van Mangus, senior academic advisor for the college of the arts, said students should pursue a major with the end goal of graduation in mind.
“Sometimes students find unknown love for an academic discipline they hadn’t experienced before,” Mangus said.
With this in mind, students should be motivated and encouraged to try something new. Students should also take the leap and jump out of their comfort zones, as they may find a love for something they never had before.
Students get exposure to a variety of different subjects throughout their general education courses. With these courses, Mangus said students may come across something that interests them.
“The best place to start is asking for help,” Whitlock said.
To get in contact with an academic adviser, contact [email protected] or (435) 652-7690.
