How to pick the right major for you!

Choosing the right major is one of the most significant decisions you’ll make in your academic life. It sets the stage for your future career path and since there are countless options available, it’s essential to approach this decision with careful consideration. Welcome to your step-by-step guide to help you navigate your journey toward the right major for you!

First step: Understand your interests and strengths
To know what major is your perfect fit, it’s time to do some self-reflection. Take the time to assess your interests, passions, and strengths. What subjects do you enjoy studying? What activities make you feel fulfilled? Consider your academic performance in high school and any extracurricular activities you might be interested in. Doing a psychometric assessment can be incredibly helpful with this! At Unihawk, we offer our students psychometric testing to help you through the self-reflection process. This test is a comprehensive method for students to understand their strengths, weaknesses, work ethic, etc, and is conducted for students to learn more about what career path would suit them best.

Second step: Explore different career paths
Once you’ve pointed out your strengths and interests, it’s time to look into all the career opportunities associated with your passions. Research potential career paths related to your areas of interest and assess them. You can consider aspects such as prospected salary, market demand, and work-life balance. Keep in mind that some majors may offer more flexibility and diverse career options than others. You can use your GuidedPath account from UniHawk to research all of these aspects and so much more.

Third step: Weigh out the pros and cons of each major
To begin evaluating the pros and cons of each major, you need to research the curriculum and course requirements. Make sure to consider the academic rigor and whether it aligns with your learning style and preferences. Next, compare industry trends, salary expectations, and potential career growth opportunities post-graduation. And the final part would be to evaluate how they align with your personal preferences and your lifestyle. Think about the type of work environment you envision for yourself after graduation. The goal of weighing out your pros and cons is to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic, career, and personal objectives.

Fourth step: Consider how they align with your values and goals
Your values and long-term life goals should also narrow down your choice of major. Reflect on what matters most to you in terms of personal fulfillment, societal impact, and financial stability. Consider how your potential chosen majors align with them and whether they would enable you to achieve your goals. Keep in mind that your interests and priorities may evolve so remain open to exploring new opportunities and adjusting your academic path accordingly.

Fifth step: Seek advice from industry experts! Reach out to them on LinkedIn
One of the most important ways to understand what major fits you best is to seek guidance from mentors, advisors, and professionals within each field of your interest. They can offer valuable insights and advice based on their own experiences and expertise. Look for internship experiences, courses, shadowing opportunities, or even chats and connections over LinkedIn! If you’re interested in a specific university, reach out to alumni on LinkedIn and ask them about their experiences to help you get a more informed perspective.

Once you’ve gone through all these steps, you should be able to figure out what your perfect fit major is! Always remember that your Unihawk counselors are here to support you throughout this entire process.

By: Sam Rajesh, Admissions Counselor