How to Know if Your Major Is Right for You

Co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD

Last Updated: September 9, 2022 References

Choosing the right college major can be tricky. It’s common for students to change their majors once they are in college. If you are questioning your current major, think carefully about why you chose it, what your grades are, and your current stress level. You should also take your future into account and research job placement and salary ranges for your major.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Evaluating Your Current Major

1
Think critically about why you chose your major. Before deciding if your major is right for you, take some time to think deeply about why you chose it in the first place. Think about who or what influenced your decision to pursue your current major. For example, if your grandmother pressured you into an English major and you are miserable in the major, consider switching.^{[1]
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- Write down all of the reasons you chose your major so that you can review them easily.
2
Take a long, hard look at your grades. Your grade point average is dependent on multiple factors. If you are doing your best and not getting good grades, it could be a sign you are in the wrong major. For example, if you are failing all of your math classes a major in engineering might not be the best choice for you.^{[2]
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- Consider your overall GPA for your major as well. For example, if your major GPA is a 3.0 or below, then you are probably not doing well in your courses.
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3
Decide if you enjoy the coursework. No matter what your major is, you should find at least some enjoyment in completing assignments and attending class. While you will not enjoy all of the requirements of every course, there should be at least some spark of interest in the coursework you need to complete.^{[3]
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4
Consider your stress level. College can be stressful, and this is often a result of what your major is. Take some time to evaluate your stress level as it relates to your college major. If you find that biology is causing your hair to fall out or preventing you from sleeping, you might want to reconsider your major.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Thinking about the Future

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Think about your long-term goals. It’s easy to get caught up in an internal debate over whether your major is the best choice, especially if it is causing you stress or hardship. Before changing your major, think deeply about where you want to go in life and who you want to be. If your dream is to become a doctor, for example, struggling through difficult coursework may be worth achieving your dreams.^{[5]
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- Write down your goals and keep them somewhere visible. Review them often to help keep yourself motivated.
2
Consider your financial situation. College is expensive, so make sure to carefully consider your financial situation when deciding if your major is right for you. Research the salary range for college graduates in your major, and think about how this matches up with your level of debt and desired lifestyle.^{[6]
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3
Don’t overspecialize. Choosing an overly specialized major can limit your future job opportunities. Instead of a narrow major, like marine biology, choose a more general major, like biology. This will allow you to pursue a career path as a marine biologist as well as a number of other careers.^{[7]
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4
Determine if you will need to spend additional time or money. Changing your major can mean that you will need to spend additional time in college. It can also mean spending more on tuition or fees associated with the major. Research the new major to see if it will cost you more time or money.
- You should also consider whether or not the career you want will require a graduate degree. This can be even more expensive than a bachelor’s degree.
5
Research job placement. It is important to have a firm grasp on where students who graduate with your major end up. Talk to your college’s career center and ask for a list of recent graduates in your major that includes job placement rates. This will give you a better idea of the types of jobs graduates end up with and whether this fits into your long-term vision.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Switching Your Major

1
Talk to an academic advisor and your professors. Before you change your major, make sure you sit down with both an academic advisor and at least one of your professors. They will help you weigh the pros and cons of changing your major. They can also help you figure out whether changing your major will delay your graduation date or cost more money.^{[8]
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2
Make sure you meet the requirements to enroll in a new major. Talk with your academic advisor about the requirements to enroll in the desired major. Sometimes you will need to complete some pre-requisite courses before you can be accepted into a new major. If you need to take additional coursework, do it as soon as possible.^{[9]
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- Also, be sure to look into when you will be able to take the required sequence of courses to graduate. Map them out by creating a timeline.
3
Submit the required paperwork. To switch your college major, you will need to complete and submit paperwork to your university. At some colleges, you can change your major online, but others will require the submission of paper forms. Talk to your academic advisor about what paperwork you will need to submit to change your major.^{[10]
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Enroll early to ensure a spot in required courses. It’s important to get required courses in your new major finished as soon as possible. Many of these required courses fill up quickly. Make sure you enroll courses early to get a seat.