51³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÍø

4 Things You Should Know Before Choosing a Major 

  • by Riddhi Puranik
Blogs
A student works on a bicycle at 51³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÍø.
Teddy Mates-Muchin, a third year anthropology major and Bike Barn employee, assesses a bike at the Bike Barn. (Karin Higgins/51³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÍø)

Choosing a college major is an important decision that can shape your academic journey and future career. It's a choice that deserves careful consideration and thorough understanding. With countless options available, it can be overwhelming to navigate through the sea of possibilities. It is natural to feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty. But fear not! This article is here to provide you with valuable insights and practical advice to help you navigate the process of declaring a major with confidence.

Whether you are a high school graduate or a college student, you can approach this decision with confidence and clarity with the right information. I should know. I experienced great amounts of confusion when I switched my major from biochemistry to communication and added design as a second major. I had changed my life plan completely. It was a challenging decision, but I found relief with the help of great resources on campus. I talked to advisors, graduate students, professors and current professionals in the field to help make the best and most informed decision. 

Here are four things you should consider when choosing a major: 

1. Discover your passions and interests before choosing a major

A student examines a plant in a greenhouse and takes notes in her notebook at 51³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÍø.
Students in Introduction to Biological Sciences explore the Botanical Conservatory's greenhouse. Emelyn Macedo, a wildlife and fish biology major, (pink hair) examines a plant. (Gregory Urquiaga/51³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÍø)

Start by learning your interests and how they align with different academic disciplines. Before declaring a major, take the time to explore your passions and interests. What subjects or activities excite you the most? Reflect on what motivates and energizes you. Consider your strengths and what you genuinely enjoy learning. By understanding your passions, you can align them with potential majors that offer a fulfilling academic experience.

Consider what you are truly passionate about because you're committing to four years of learning in that area. Use intro classes to explore what might interest you. But remember that these classes simply build a foundation. The upper level classes might have more interesting topics, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t fully connect with the material at first.

2. Explore your choices of majors

Three students look through a telescope on a platform surrounded by trees.
Shawn Pinkham, an animal science major; Leah Urrutia, an animals science major; and Elisa Pulido, animal biology major, make observations from a platform at the Oakland Zoo. They are helping Yasmeen Ghavamian, Ph.D. candidate in animal biology, to conduct research on gray wolves.

51³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÍø offers several resources that can assist you with exploring your interests: 

  • Workshops: The offers workshops year round to help you navigate the decision-making process. The conducts similar as well. 
  • : This tool provides you with a series of questions on subjects you enjoy, somewhat like, and dislike. Then it provides you with a list of majors for each category based on how you answer the questions.
  • : Similar to the Major Card Sort, this guides you through different interests and possible careers in different fields and allows you to explore your choices. 
  • Advisors and faculty: Advisors in the different colleges can help dispel some of your questions about a major. This way, you can make a more informed decision.
  • : Student health offers a program that can dive deeper and identify your personal goals and needs in an individual or group setting. 
  • Faculty: The best way to know what you will learn is to talk with those who teach it. Professors and even teaching assistants can provide you with unique and valuable advice regarding a field of study. Don’t be afraid to stay after class and ask questions! 

3. Remain open to new opportunities — related and unrelated to your major

A college student leans down to help two high school students learn about spheres.
Neeraj Senthil, a biomedical engineering major, serves as a student teacher at Oliver Wendell Holmes Junior High School. He teaches a class on how to calculate the volume of a sphere. (Gregory Urquiaga/51³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏÍø)

Keep in mind that declaring a major doesn't mean your path is set in stone. It's normal to feel uncertain, and it's okay to explore different subjects b