Who Do I Talk to about my College Major?

There are many places to go when looking for some answers. First, would be a career counselors office. They will have the most information and most pathways to get to where you want. They can help lead you in the right direction by giving you intro level classes to take to spark your interest and see if you like certain things. During my interview with Kaitleen Turner she mentioned that their doors are always open. One really good sample question she gave to ask your counselor was “What made students successful in the past?” With that the counselor can go many different directions, all of which are beneficial to you.

Another option on who to talk to would be family and friends. A PhD student at the University of Arizona says family support is an influential resource that families can offer to you and contributes to your achievement. If you have family who have been through college they can give you valuable information on what steps to take and how to navigate the decision of picking a college major. In my case, none of my family really went to college so I relied on the help of friends my age and older who are either going through the same thing we are or went through it. They can offer valuable advice because it helps to go through something with someone who understands exactly and can share in that experience. The New York Times writes even just talking a little bit about how your feelings can help ease the stress.

Classmates can be a useful resource as well. Engaging in conversation with classmates can help you network with like minded people who are all searching for the same thing you are. In some cases they've already picked their major, which can be very helpful information to you. You can ask questions about how they got there. Engaging with classmates also leads to networking. When you connect with a classmate it can be a relationship that can last forever. It can help you get a job down the road or just be a friend to bounce ideas off of. Either way, beneficial to you.

Teachers can be helpful as well. If you take a class that you end up enjoying, stay after and have conversations with the teachers. According to professionals from Forbes, they say to find someone who knows you in an academic setting, like a teacher or college counselor. The professors teach thousands of students each year so they have very high insight about what certain people may like and can point you in the right direction. While speaking with Dr. Carly Drake, a professor at my school, she stated in the interview that professors know students' work and personalities very intimately. Because of that they can identify interesting trends and what stands out about a student. When I spoke with Nico Milano he said that the way he found out about his career interest was through one of his professors and still speaks with that professor even though they are not in the same class anymore. He said to me, “I don't know if I would have chosen that path if it wasn't for that professor.”

Where Do I Go?

Your campus should have all the information you need and more. Going to on campus events can be the best way to get information about whatever field you may be interested in. Many college campuses host events such as career fairs. A career fair is a great way to find out information about certain fields you may be interested in. If you don't know what a career fair is, it is when the school brings employers to the campus to talk to students about their company mission and their hiring practices. Once you get to a point where you feel that you have an idea about what you want, a career fair can help give you ideas about what job, exactly, sounds interesting to you.

Another good event to go to would be networking events. Either on campus or outside of campus, networking is one of the most important aspects to building a career. As I mentioned earlier, meeting peers creates connections and allows you to hear many different views from people your age or older. Based on interviews I conducted throughout the process of writing this, they've said networking and career fairs give you a chance to make connections with likeminded people, learn about different career paths, and gather some valuable insight into the job market of the field you choose. According to Harvard Business Review, when you interact with different people, you’re also constantly gathering information. They say depending on who you’re connected to, you can use your network to talk to your peers or learn the details about your industry of interest through LinkedIn.

A third place you can go is the career center/counselors office in your school. Every school has one. At my school, North Central, their motto is all about assisting students of all majors with their interests and career goals and creating opportunities to help you succeed in your future. Find this department in your school and have a conversation with them. They will listen to you with open ears and you can voice any concerns or questions you may have with them. While interviewing a success coach at my school, she says that going to them is your best bet in being led in the right direction. Just remember every journey is different. They don't all look the same.

How Do I Deal with the Stress of Picking a College Major?

If you haven't figured it out already, one of the deals you make when signing up for college is the major stress that comes with it. My advice would be to turn the stress into a positive thing. A quote found by U.S News reads, stress is there for a reason. It is there to help you do the necessary things you need to do in a day. Emma K. Adam, a professor of human development and social policy at Northwestern University in Illinois says you're supposed to have times where you shut down, relax, repair and restore. It's ok to feel stress, it is about what you decide to do about that stress that can make or break you. When dealing with the stress of picking a college major detach yourself from the situation. You don't have to think about it all day and all night. Don't let it consume your life. Dr. Carly Drake gave amazing advice. She said if she could tell her younger self one thing, it would be to take a look at the big picture of life. She said “school is important but so are our relationships and our health (especially mental health).” She finished by saying “enjoy your rest, enjoy some fun, and get back to business.” It will all work out, so enjoy yourself and let it come naturally. It will all fall into place at the right time.

My advice for detaching is to find a hobby. For me, that hobby is exercising. Staff from the Mayo Clinic says that almost any form of physical activity can act as a stress reliever. Even if you are not an athlete or you're out of shape, exercise can still be a great stress reliever. They write “Physical activity can pump up your feel-good endorphins and other natural neural chemicals that boost your sense of well-being.” Refocusing your mind can improve your mood and help the day's irritations fade away. So do anything that gets you active. I enjoy lifting weights and playing pickup basketball. For me, it is the best way to detach and shut my mind off for an hour or two. Find what fits you.

The traditional stress relief techniques are also great for dealing with stress. Prioritize your mental health by practicing mindfulness, meditate, and practice breathwork techniques. Taking breaks to recharge can help clear your mind and help you make better choices. According to The Art of Living, meditation can help give greater clarity of mind and mental focus. It improves the ability to manage challenging situations, reduces anxiety, improves patience, and increases confidence and self-esteem. Remember that it is okay to not have everything figured out right away. Tons students change their majors during college. It is perfectly normal. In my interview with the success coach, Kaitleen, she said she changed her major three times. She started by majoring in art, switched to wanting to be in architecture, then switched her major again to exercise science. She then got her masters and is now helping guide the youth by being a success coach at a college. If you start moving down one path and find that it is not for you, don’t be afraid to pivot. Failure is part of the path to success. It is ok to hit a bump in the road. The college years are a time for growth and self-discovery, and it is important to be able to adapt.

Signs You Picked the Right College Major

How do you know you made the right decision? It is a feeling. Do you love learning about your major? Can you envision yourself doing that forever? Those are some of the questions you should be asking yourself. An article by LinkedIn gives a list of signs to know you made the right choice.

1. Feeling inner peace

2. Alignment with your values

3. Excitement and anticipation

4. Positive gut feeling

5. Support from others

6. Long-term fulfillment

The roller coaster is a part of the journey. The ups and the downs are all valuable. Talk to your friends, talk to your family. Trust your instincts. Nobody knows you more than you. If you can answer these questions then you can finally say to yourself,  “I finally picked my college major.”