7 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Your College Major

By Amelia Woolard

After a few semesters of classes, extracurriculars, and awesome parties, it’s time to finally buckle down and do the inevitable: declare your major. Sure, you’ve got a few ideas as to what you’d like to devote your entire life to – no pressure or anything – but odds are that you may be viewing the whole process in an idealistic light. We know that it’s hard not to let those childhood dreams of being a doctor or astronaut get in the way sometimes—and although, we, at uCribs, believe that you can do anything you set your mind to, it’s important to be realistic, objective, and even downright scrutinous when it boils down to making this monumental decision.

We’re not trying to psych you out or anything, but when it comes to something as crucial as declaring your college major, it’s vital to make sure that you’re considering the time, money, and personal commitment that go into obtaining “that little piece of paper.” Because as you now know or will soon learn—it’s no cake walk. Luckily for you, uCribs gives you one less thing to worry about as the Spring semester gears up with a brand-new blog on the top 7 mistakes to avoid when choosing a college major.

Mistake #1: Choosing a College Major at Random

It’s a common scenario: the college student who can’t nail down an intended area of study. Yes, since college has materialized itself as an institution, we’ve seen it time and time again. Perhaps he or she has too many interests, and the major options seem overwhelmingly infinite. Maybe this student is worried about pigeonholing themselves into a career that doesn’t work out in the long term. After all, picking out toppings for Taco Tuesday is challenging enough, but planning out your entire life? No thanks! Better to flip a coin and figure it out later, right?

Short answer: no way. You probably put a great deal of thought into picking your current college or university, so why choose a major on a whim? If anything, it’s just as imperative to pick the correct one. While the importance of declaring a major can sometimes feel exaggerated, the truth is that your major will set the tone for the latter years of your college experience by dictating which courses you take, which internships you sign up for, and possibly which extracurriculars you get involved in. It will also influence the first job you land as a working adult. We can probably all agree that things of this nature shouldn’t be left to chance, so please, for the love of uCribs, don’t choose your major at random!

Mistake #2: Choosing an “Easy” College Major

Okay, so maybe you’re not exactly a straight-A student, and for this reason, you’re concerned about declaring a major. You have a variety of interests and excel in a few different areas, but honestly, you’re not the studious type and aren’t sure which career path makes sense for your unique skill set. So, you go for something that seems generic enough to get your family’s stamp of approval and land yourself a decent, fresh-out-of-college job. Surely declaring an “easy” major will pan out in the end, right?

Maybe… but probably not. It’s understandable that you would feel intimidated by the whole “career path” thing, but the reality is that every major has its ups and downs. There are no “easy” majors, just different areas of focus that— when pursued with enthusiasm and a good work ethic— can lead you to success in unique and exciting ways. The major takeaway here? Instead of settling for a major that you believe to be less demanding than another, consider your interests and pick a major that feels right to you and compliments the topics you’re passionate about. Your future self will thank you for following your heart and not shying away from a challenge.

Mistake #3: Choosing a College Major for Perceived Job Security

In a perfect world, declaring a prestigious major would grant Future You with an all-access pass to the finest things in life. Declining job outlook? Dwindling pay? Unexpected layoffs? Fuhgettaboutit. These worries won’t apply to you and your career of choice – your impressive major and its subsequent, high-paying job will make sure of it! And don’t even think about seeking alternate career routes. Again, in this perfect world, your major will carry you all the way to retirement. Yep, with that awesome major declared, it’s all sunshine and rainbows for Future You.

Although many college students choose majors solely based on potential salary and supposed job security, the sad reality is that no job in any career field can guarantee such a thing. While there’s nothing wrong with seeking job and financial security, pursuing a major with only money on the brain is a sure recipe for disappointment. Even Jim Carrey testified to this during a 2014 commencement speech, during which he referenced his comedian-turned-accountant father who, despite pursuing a “safe” career path, faced an unexpected layoff anyway. Take our advice: pick a major that speaks to your interests, and you’ll find success in your professional career one way or another.

Mistake #4: Choosing a College Major with Only Your Dream Job in Mind

When you’re a bright-eyed college student, it’s easy to get swept away by the idealization of your major and the glorious opportunities it will bring to the proverbial “front door” of your chosen career path. Economics majors may fantasize about being on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, while journalism students prepare their future Pulitzer Prize acceptance speeches. Since you’ve been picturing this job in your mind since you were a kid, you have a gut feeling that with all of your determination and hard work your dream job is absolutely achievable.

Not to burst anyone’s bubble, but even the most amazing jobs are never perfect in real life. And if you find yourself guilty of romanticizing your future career, you probably need to take a serious step back. You may love fashion, but are you ready to spend countless hours creating garments that may never make it down the runway? You may be a coding prodigy, but if you can’t handle sitting at a computer all day, you might not hack it at a legitimate software company. So, before you declare that major, think critically about its associated career path and be honest with yourself when deciding whether you can handle its routine requirements. Which brings us to our next point…

Mistake #5: Choosing a College Major Without Hands-On Experience

Okay, so you know by this point that your major definitely shouldn’t be something you decide at random. You also know that it should suit your interests and lead you down a career path that you’ll enjoy, even during its more monotonous days. With all online research aside, how can you possibly get a hands-on feel for the major and its associated jobs when you’re still just a mere a college student?

With a bit of imagination and a can-do attitude, you’ll find that there are a ton of ways to glean real-world experience relevant to your intended major, whether it’s enrolling in a summer internship, shadowing a professional already working in the field, or performing charitable work in your field of interest. Perhaps you’ll find that your values perfectly align with the field, or maybe you’ll learn that you’re in no way cut out for what you thought was your dream job. Trust us, no matter how much it may hurt to learn that your ideal career wasn’t what you were expecting, this is incredibly valuable intel that will help you discover where your talents and passions truly lie.

Mistake #6: Choosing the Same College Major as Your Friends

We’ve all got friends with whom we share interests and goals. That’s why they’re considered friends in the first place, right? Some friends you might share everything with – clothes, books, study sessions, and even groceries. But that doesn’t mean that because your bestie is a proud political science major that you should become one, too. In fact, we’d venture to say that allowing your friendships to dictate your future career path is a very bad idea. Allow us to explain.

While it may initially seem fun to take required courses together and dream about attending the same law program, tagging along with a friend when it comes to something as critical as your college major is not something we would recommended, especially if you have any interest in developing yourself as an individual. Sure, you may share common ground with your BFF when it comes to interests and abilities, but you also possess a special something that should be applied to a career of your choosing. After all, your friends are choosing their majors based on their own goals and personality traits, which means that you should probably do the same for yourself.

Mistake #7: Deferring the Choice of Your College Major to Someone Else

If you enjoy a strong relationship with family members, teachers, coaches, or other respected mentors, you know how awesome it feels to have people in your corner. The personal and academic support you’ve received over the years has been invaluable, and in looking back, you can’t imagine completing high school and transitioning to college without the guidance of your personal mentors. But now that you’re expected to declare a major, your loyal band of supporters has turned into something that resembles a team of drill sergeants, who are all way too opinionated about what area you should pursue.

When people who are close to you – and, not to mention, have years of experience surviving the real world under their belt – make suggestions relating to your future career trajectory, it can be hard to know when to disregard their well-intentioned advice. No matter how many times Aunt Peggy tells you that you’d excel in sales just like she did, you must resist the temptation to allow her – or anyone else – to sway you towards one major or another. It’s easy to believe that people with established career paths are the end-all, be-all when it comes to career advice, but the truth is that the working world is vastly different now than it was even ten years ago, and in the end, you need to determine which direction your life will take and accept all the good/bad that comes along with that decision.

Declaring a major and, in turn, carving out the beginning stages of a lifelong career path is an essential part of any student’s college experience. While deciding upon a college major is enough to make any student curl up in a fetal position, the process is much more approachable with a realistic outlook and a certain level of flexibility. When the time comes, be sure to avoid these 7 common mistakes for choosing your college major, and you’ll find yourself at the helm of a very exciting, very fulfilling future on your chosen career path.

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