Many students struggle with choosing a major that really fits what they think they want. And we college staff don’t make it easy for them once they get to us. At some institutions, we often implore them to make a decision before they are sophomores. Some universities even require students to choose a college (for example, engineering) and apply to that college as a part of the admissions process. Talk about pressure to make a decision that fits both students’ achievements to date and their career direction! No wonder many students find the whole process “crazy making.” They are often worried they are not making the best decision.
A stressed out student who is afraid of making a mistake with such an important decision does not make for a pleasant person to communicate with. Instead of adding to the stress, consider asking your student the following questions about a major:
Is the major practical? Too many of my students confess that they have chosen a major that is practical, meaning they believe they can get a job with the degree immediately upon graduation. They often do this to appease their parents’ wishes to “study something that connects directly to a job.” But they find the major uninspiring at best, mind-numbingly boring at worst. Of course, there is nothing wrong with choosing something practical, but if that is the only criteria for your student, it could keep him from exploring what would be a really good fit for his values, skills, and goals.
Parent tip: Ask your student what is drawing her to the major? If the answer is “Well, I know I can get a good job with that degree,” then follow up with this question: “If you knew you would gainfully employed after college regardless of your major, what would you choose?” If the answer is something very different, you can follow up with additional questions like the ones listed below.
Is your student passionate about the major? Cal Newport argues in his book So Good They Can’t Ignore You that passion alone is not sufficient to follow your dreams. He lists lots of examples of people who were only passionate (and not practical) who failed in realizing their dreams. I can certainly concede with some of Newport’s points. However, if there is not an interest in the major, even if it is a mild curiosity, then it may not be a good fit. Your student’s passion about the major should not be the only thing that drives him.
Parent tip: Ask your student what interests her about the major and even the classes that make up the major? One fruitful exercise is to have your student review the course descriptions (which usually can be found online in the college catalog or bulletin) in a major and mark the courses that interest her the most. If she cannot get past the descriptions because they sound too boring, then she may not be as passionate about the major as she thinks.
Will the major help your student serve a purpose? This question may take a little more digging and discussion. I ask my students each semester what their “life’s purpose” is or what drives them toward their goals. Almost without exception, students describe their purpose as helping others. Yes, a few want to be fabulously wealthy, but most say they want to make others’ lives better. An answer like this can start a good conversation about the nature of helping others and a description of who those others would be.
Parent tip: Ask your student what he feels would be his purpose in a career. If he says “helping others” or “making the world better,” then you can ask more pointed questions about how he envisions a major could help him fulfill that purpose.
After all these questions you still seem to get no good response from your student? Follow back up later or encourage her to think about how her current classes may reveal some potential answers for her as she narrows her focus to making that important (but not that important) decision.
