Tips that Will Help You Successfully Select a Major that is Right for You

College freshmen may perhaps be the most impressionable creatures in the entire existence of our society. For years our culture tells high school students what to do, when to do it, how to do it, and who to do it with. We give them two months off to rest from 13 years of hard work, then ship them away to a place called college. Now, for the first time in their life, everyone turns to them and asks what they want to do, when they want to do it, how they want to do it, and who they want to do it with. They have the power and control to chose for themselves, a luxury that has been denied to them for the first 18 years of their life.

You would think they would be prepared for this new freedom because after all they have been in school for 13 years and they should have this entire system of learning figured out by now. Instead, at this age we are impressionable, confused, and scared. It does not have to be so confusing and scary though. Here are some tips that will help you successfully select a major that is right for you.

Think of Yourself First: When it comes to your college career there may be a lot of people who feel they know what is best for you. This is true especially with your parents. In some cases you and your parents are on the same page as to what you should do with your life. Most of the time this is not the case. You have a decision to make. You can either select the degree that will make your parents happy, or select the degree that will make you happy. If you decide to select the degree that makes your parents happy then you are stepping into dangerous waters. Yes, they will be happy and happy parents is never a bad thing.

The bad side is that two years from now when you have had a little life experience, you will start to think for yourself. Your parents' opinions will still matter, but you are going to be making your own decisions. This means that their happiness may not mean as much to you as your own. You may decide to change your degree and do what you really love. If you do this you are at risk for lost credits and time wasted in classes you will never need. Depending on your college and how long it takes before this happens, it may even take you longer to get through college. This ends up being money wasted for tuition, room, and board.

The other option is that you finish this degree that your parents selected for you. You graduate and try to find a job. You get this dream job, your parent's dream job that is, and then you go to work. Suddenly you are asking yourself what you have done because it is obvious that this job is not for you.

To avoid these two problems, start thinking for yourself right away. Discuss your college decisions with your parents, but make sure you go to school for you and not them.

Career Centers: I mentioned earlier that when we get out of high school we are often confused. This means we go into college having no idea what we want to do with our lives. Most of the time this is because we don't know ourselves and who we are. Understand that going into college with an unknown degree is an option, but at some point in time you will have to select a degree. Talk to your college campus and find out if they have a Career Center. Most college campuses do. Career Centers aren't the most exciting places but you will be surprised at how much you can learn about yourself. These centers give you different tests that determine what type of person you are, what you like to do, and what you are good at. After taking the test you will get a list of careers that might be right for you. No, you do not have to select a career from this list, but it is a very helpful resource if you honestly don't know what you want to do.

The key to finding the right degree and career is to think for yourself and understand the type of person you are. Really take the time to think about this and make the decision for yourself. In the end it will save you time, money, and heartache.