Seek Inspiration
Deciding on a major is a big decision, and it should be a matter of prayer. Seek
guidance from Heavenly Father through fasting and prayer. Consider reviewing and
pondering your patriarchal blessing and the scriptures for guidance and inspiration.
Counsel with your parents, family, friends, and leaders, and consider their thoughts
and advice. Remember to live in such a way that you can feel and recognize the promptings
of the Spirit and act upon those feelings.
Give everything at least a small chance
When you enter college, you are entering a new world, one very different from high
school. You are older, hopefully wiser, and ready to prepare yourself for the real
world. With this in mind, things you liked in high school or subjects you enjoyed
might change now that you are in a different educational setting. Then again, they
might not change at all. Ultimately, you should keep an open mind, and don’t automatically
rule anything out. Give everything at least a small chance as you are attempting
to make your decision.
Explore available resources
The Internet is filled with resources to help you choose a major or career path.
There are many websites dedicated to this sole purpose. Take advantage of valuable
resources found online and offline.
www.mynextmove.org
Identify gifts, talents, and interests
Identify your gifts, your talents, and things that interest you. Everyone has unique
skills that come naturally as well as skills that require practice and hard work.
Many people have not evaluated themselves well enough to identify their natural
talents and skills. Work to identify these skills, and find out which ones interest
you enough to potentially make a career out of them.
www.mynextmove.org
In-depth career exploration
There are many ways in which a person may evaluate themselves. In-depth examination
opportunities are often available when working with a trained career counselor who
will guide you through standardized career assessments. Career and academic counselors
are offered at most universities in the United States and may be available to you
at your own high school. Take time to go talk to your school counselor to see how
they can help, or take a look at the academic advising website of the college you
wish to attend.
www.mynextmove.org
Choose a Major
We encourage you to decide which areas of study interest you most in order to choose
a major as early as possible. Choosing a major early provides direction in completing
all relevant courses required for graduation. Delay in selecting a major may result
in extra time and money spent taking classes that may not contribute to your major.
What is a Major?
A major is a collection of courses that are meant to focus your learning within
a field of study. Working within a major prepares you to graduate with a certain
set of skills that will be beneficial to your chosen field.
Don't Panic!!
When it comes time to choose a major, don’t panic. Many students are uncertain of
their major and career. There are also students who arrive at school knowing exactly
what they want to major in, and they might have known since grade school. The truth,
however, is that the majority of students in colleges throughout the country change
their major at least once over the course of their college experience. Choosing
a major can be a difficult decision. Here are some tips to help you make this sometimes
difficult decision a little easier.