How did you choose your major?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I viewed college as a means to an end, as I knew I'd have to go beyond a college education to be competitive. I selected a good base major (English), which left the door open for graduate programs in a number of fields. I ultimately chose a graduate program in nonprofit management as my "career" field.

This is pretty much my opinion on my major (and college majors in general.)

They don't define the direction of your career nearly as much (or at all, really) as grad degrees can.

[*winter*]

Darts. Worked out very well.

OK...really...I knew I wanted to do something in health, somewhere. Not really into nursing...maybe not a lab worker, but maybe...didn't think I was smart enough for biology so I took Public Health...and it bored me. I, however, found myself facinated (and smart enough) for the PH science requisites. Out of all the areas, I was most interested in Environmental Health.

Picking my perfcet major, for me, involved transferring schools, but I don't regret it. I got exactly what I wanted- the right major is like a good relationship- it holds your interest. I enjoyed the rest of college and got a job in my chosen field.

So it wasn't exactly darts, literally, but it was honing in on a certain area in a very broad discipline. Taking classes is really the only way to narrow it down. Also, really WHAT is it you would enjoy? I knew I absolutely loved nature and the outdoors, so I wanted to incoprorate that into my job somehow. I knew working in an office all day wasn't for me. I liked labwork, but I didn't want to be stuck in a lab ALL day, every day. I like people, but didn't want to work exclusively with patients all day.

ETA: In this age, we are all a work in progress. Career change is common, as is going back to school for graduate degrees (as others have detailed in this post.) You really don't have to have it all figured out at 19, honestly. I'm a (potential) career changer at 32. I love what I do, but it's very limiting because there's no upward mobility, especially without a PE (engineer) or PG (geologist) license. Those would be attainable for me with additional classes (and some other stuff.) Point being, you kind of pick the general direction undergrad and hone it down when you get into the workforce and see what you really enjoy, or learn more about what specifically is required to move into the direction you choose.