First draft! I might add some more info if I have lots of spare time to research.
Choosing The Right College Major
By KW (Sweet Rain ☆)
Graduating from high school is one of the biggest achievement worth celebrating. It means you are ready for the next step of your education. Preparing for university entrance exam and choosing where to study are not as easy as ABC. That applies to choosing what you are going to learn in college too. It is no longer a secret that university students commonly change their field of concentration in the middle of the year.
Moving from one major to another is not forbidden because for some people, it might help discover their passion and what they really wish to study. Nonetheless, a fixed choice of major from the beginning is better due to the fact not all universities allow students to move to a different major before graduating.
So, what can you do to decide which major is the right one for you?
1. Look back to your high school years
This is usually used as a first step for some people to weigh their decision between several promising majors. All you need to do is ask yourself what lesson(s) you really liked back at high school.
Bear in mind that lessons you love are not always the ones you can easily get a sky high grade, although if you love that lesson you will automatically push yourself to do your best. This includes doing a test as well. Should you truly like a class, you may find yourself feeling energized and curious while learning or go to a deeper context about what you have learnt by looking up challenging questions related to the subject online. Perhaps you feel the need to know more about it.
After that, remember what kind of clubs or organizational activities you have joined during your three years as a high school student. Try thinking about the club or activity that pique your interest. Maybe you used to be a member of the creative writing club of your school, and you poured your heart out on your writings during club time.
2. Know your passion, talents, and hobbies
You may have heard this classic quote: "Follow your passion, and success will follow you." As cheesy as it sounds, this proves to be true for everyone who give it all they got in what they do. Here comes another self-questioning session. You need to know what you really like to do and what you are good at. Do you wish to contribute for the better world with what you have after spending four years in college? If your answer is yes, then you are one step closer to a decision.
Are you constantly thinking about how the world's environment can be better? Do you collect something related to your interest? For instance, you love reading and you have a big collection of literary books ranging from time to time. Do you like doing something else and at times without you knowing it, time flies when you are occupied with your hobby? What have you achieved with your gift? Getting to know yourself is beneficial for your major deciding.
3. Find your personal values
The next step is to discover what you really wish to obtain from learning in a major. What motivates you to gain more knowledge regarding a certain major is also important for choosing your future. Studying about something just because someone else says so is a jeopardy for your motivation fuel. Go ask yourself what your dream job is, and what kind of working methods you prefer. Is it in a team or by yourself? Whatever you choose, there is no right or wrong answer. Also, ask yourself this question too: what are your plans after obtaining your bachelor's degree?
Finding a major that fits our personality and mindset is crucial to keep your determination alive while studying. You wouldn't want to feel out of place in your major before graduating, thus losing motivation before you reach the end of your studies. Choosing Applied Mathematics concentration is not for you if you are not in the analyzer category and you feel your logic cannot bind your creativity.
4. Don't let public opinions get to you
We grow up with society's doctrine about which majors are more prestigious. We have been forced to believe that if we enter a major that suits our heart's aspiration but not considered as one of the trending majors by society, we will end up poor and unemployed. Even if society says our major of choice is filled with people who are left behind, don't let it confuse your heart.
Choosing a prestigious major with expensive fees deluded by pride's ego is dangerous from many aspects. Psychologically, financially, and physically. If you choose the wrong major that your inner self does not want, then congratulations. You will make your parents spend a high amount of money for tuition fees in return of useless bachelor degree and a deprived or dropped out soon-to-be-graduate.
Whatever you have found in your heart, stick to it. Just because the public says otherwise of your choice, never let what they see as right get to you.
Now that you have known what to choose, have fun preparing your college application. College is only a once in a lifetime four years long experience, so make it memorable! Of course, the first step of making your university years more memorable is to be true to your heart about what you like and wish to study.