It might be difficult to decide on a major, especially if you have several interests or are unsure of your future professional goals.

The reality is that a lot of students switch majors. A 2020 Best Colleges study found that 3 in 5 college graduates would switch their majors if they could go back in time.

Before choosing a major, you should think about a number of things, such as the cost of the school, your expected pay, and the job rates in that area of study. You should also consider your academic interests, personality, and professional aspirations.

Here, we assist you in selecting a major that aligns with your personal goals, principles, and interests.

Six Important Things to Think About When Choosing a Major

Making a big decision is an important stage in the college process, so don't rush it. Here are six things to think about before selecting a major.

What are your top priorities?

Some students choose their majors based largely on their expected salaries and employment demands. Most of the students select majors in which they have a strong interest or expertise.

Consider which of these three criteria—economic benefit, interest level, and ability—are the most significant and pertinent to you and your objectives before selecting a major.

What are you interested in?
According to studies, when students can concentrate on their passions, they tend to perform better in class. Unfortunately, identifying one's hobbies is not always simple for people.

Think about taking a personality test to obtain assistance with this. You can find topics that closely match your personality and interests by using a tool like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

This well-known test uses your behaviors and viewpoints to assign one of 16 personality types, each represented by a combination of four letters. ISFJ (introverted, sensing, feeling, and judging) and ENTP (extroverted, intuitive, thinking, and perceiving) are two examples of these personality types.

By participating in student organizations, giving back to the community, working a part-time job on campus, running a side business, or doing an internship, you can also learn more about potential fields of study and career prospects.

What are you good at?
You can choose a major with greater knowledge and assurance if you are aware of your inherent abilities and qualities.

Your parents may have always wanted you to be an artist, but what if your interests lie more in business or science? It doesn't necessarily follow that the degree path someone else has in mind is the best one for you.

Examining your high school grades and ACT or SAT results is one way to decide which academic disciplines are ideal for you. By doing this, you can demonstrate your abilities in particular academic fields.

What are the highest-paying fields?
Establish the importance of wage and future salary potential in your decision-making process before choosing a major. If high salaries are what motivate you, pursuing a degree in a STEM-related field might be appealing to you.

Nevertheless, some students don't desire a job for the money alone; they care more about the significance of their work than the pay offered. Human services, education, and the visual or performing arts are popular non-STEM majors.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics frequently updates the list of jobs with the highest salaries. On this list, psychiatrists come in at the top, along with other medical specialists like oral and maxillofacial surgeons, obstetricians and gynecologists, and general internists.

Jobs with high incomes outside of health and medicine include those as a top executive, physicist, manager of computer and information systems, or manager of architecture and engineering.

How tough will the assignments be?

Due to elements including the amount of study required, the standards for the courses, and the frequency of exams, some majors may feel more difficult than others. A sizable amount of your college course load will be made up of classes related to your major. Make sure you are aware of how demanding your weekly workload will be before declaring a major.

The 2016 National Survey of Student Engagement at Indiana University Bloomington identified the most challenging majors based on the weekly average of preparation time. Architecture, chemical engineering, and aeronautical engineering were among the most challenging majors.

Fields including criminal justice, communication, and public relations were among the easier majors that often required less preparation time.

What does your academic advisor say?

When selecting a major, speaking with your academic advisor is a crucial step to take.

Your adviser can offer advice on choosing a major because they have probably had similar discussions with many students. They might even suggest a major that fits both your academic and professional objectives and that you hadn't previously thought about.

Keep in mind that an academic advisor has a finite amount of time when chatting with them. Bring a list of well-thought-out questions to the meeting.