| Trying to choose a college major can | | | | much as $24,000 a year more than you the |
| become overwhelming. Here are three | | | | first year! That's close to a full |
| simple questions you should be asking | | | | year's starting salary for many new |
| yourself. | | | | grads. If you can see that bothering |
| If you're having trouble choosing a | | | | you, take a look at the average starting |
| college major, take heart. You're not | | | | salaries of majors that interest you. |
| alone. Almost two-thirds of U.S. | | | | Here are a few examples to give you an |
| undergrads change majors before | | | | idea: |
| graduating, according to Ejournal USA. | | | | • Chemical engineering: $54,256 |
| Many switch out up to four or five | | | | • Electrical engineering: $52,009 |
| majors before finally picking one. In | | | | • Marketing: $37,832 |
| fact, some institutions prefer that | | | | • Liberal arts: $30,337 |
| students not declare a major until after | | | | Those with degrees in the liberal arts |
| they have their college education | | | | seem to fare badly when compared with |
| underway. Generally, you can chalk up | | | | those completing their studies in |
| uncertainty about a major to the average | | | | chemical engineering. If you don't want |
| college experience. To graduate, though, | | | | to go to graduate school but want at |
| you do have to bite the bullet, declare | | | | least average earnings, you may need to |
| a major, and complete the required | | | | consider these starting salaries |
| coursework. Careful evaluation can help | | | | closely. |
| you find a good match and avoid taking | | | | However, if you love the liberal arts |
| thirty years to complete a four year | | | | you needn't resign yourself to a below |
| degree! | | | | average income. Many liberal arts |
| #1 Who Are You? | | | | graduates keep hitting the books in |
| OK, despite the title of this article, | | | | graduate school or professional studies. |
| you'll need to ask more than three | | | | A student completing a B.A. in |
| questions to turn up the right major. | | | | psychology, for example, faces a very |
| You should start your decision-making | | | | different earning potential than a Ph.D. |
| process by taking a look at who you are, | | | | grad, who can practice as a psychologist |
| so actually you'll need to ask some good | | | | or teach at a university. Likewise for |
| questions and perhaps perform a little | | | | someone with a B.A. in history compared |
| research. | | | | to someone with the history B.A. and a |
| • What are your interests and values | | | | law degree. |
| and how can your education further them? | | | | Additionally, many employers prefer |
| • What are your academic strengths and | | | | liberal arts degrees because they create |
| weaknesses? Going with your strengths | | | | well-rounded employees. Conversely, the |
| sets you up for success instead of | | | | specific knowledge afforded by degrees |
| frustration. | | | | such as engineering and information |
| • Would you like to attend graduate | | | | technology can become |
| school, or are you eager to begin | | | | obsolete--sometimes quickly--and these |
| working right away? Some careers have | | | | grads have to continually update their |
| very high education requirements and a | | | | education to remain competitive in their |
| bachelor's degree won't get you a very | | | | professions. |
| high level position. | | | | What you choose as your course of study |
| • How important is money? If money is | | | | has an impact beyond the four-years of |
| very important, look for degree programs | | | | classroom work. When selecting a major, |
| that lead to higher-paying jobs for new | | | | familiarize yourself with your likely |
| graduates--most often in technology, | | | | income, as well as the job and |
| engineering, or business. | | | | educational tracks typically associated |
| • How important is job placement? | | | | with the discipline. |
| Employers swoop in to grab graduates in | | | | #3 Where Are The Jobs? |
| some fields; in others you may have to | | | | Good news for everybody: The U.S. Bureau |
| search extensively or even move to find | | | | of Labor Statistics projects that over |
| work. | | | | the 2004-14 decade, total employment |
| • Get out your college's course | | | | will increase by 18.9 million jobs, or |
| catalog. Which course titles pique your | | | | 13 percent. That said, not every |
| interest? Which departments sound | | | | industry and occupation will enjoy the |
| intriguing? Try a low level course in an | | | | same growth rate. If you're eager to get |
| interesting program and see if you like | | | | work related to your major right out of |
| it. | | | | the gate, consider the following |
| • Which courses did you enjoy most in | | | | information: |
| high school and/or college? | | | | • Nine of the 10 fastest growing |
| • Go to the U.S. Bureau of Labor | | | | professions are health or computer (IT) |
| website and have a look at the | | | | professions. |
| Occupational Handbook. Which job | | | | • Production occupations and farming, |
| descriptions look like good matches for | | | | fishing, and forestry jobs are expected |
| you? | | | | to fall over the next decade. |
| • Look online for interviews with | | | | • Business and financial operations |
| people who work in fields that interest | | | | jobs are projected to increase faster |
| you, or interview a few folks yourself. | | | | than the 13 percent average for all |
| Can you relate to them and their work | | | | occupations. |
| experience? | | | | • Educational services, health care |
| The more information you gather about | | | | and social assistance, along with |
| yourself, the easier your decision will | | | | professional and business services are |
| become. A guidance counselor or | | | | the industry sectors with the most |
| career-counseling center can also help | | | | robust job growth. The BLS projects |
| you take an interest inventory. If you | | | | these sectors will grow more than twice |
| don't have access to such inventories | | | | as fast as the rest of the economy. |
| locally, check with a U.S. Educational | | | | Some grads are willing to sling hash |
| Advising/Information Center or similar | | | | while waiting for the perfect |
| program. The U.S. Department of State | | | | professional gig to open up. Those with |
| hosts the EducationUSA program, | | | | a drama degree, for example, may |
| operating more than 450 of these centers | | | | continue to find service jobs much |
| in 170 countries. | | | | easier to land than leading parts, as |
| #2 Where Is The Money? | | | | five out of the ten occupations adding |
| The general wisdom to follow your heart | | | | the most jobs are in service. Most |
| when selecting a major has the ring of | | | | actors are not particularly surprised at |
| truth. But look deeply. How important is | | | | having to work outside their field to |
| money to your happiness? You'll want to | | | | pay the bills. You needn't choose your |
| answer this question when choosing a | | | | major based on job projections, but you |
| major because your major will very | | | | should acquaint yourself with the |
| likely impact your earnings. | | | | projections for any career you're |
| Even if you don't find money-hunger | | | | considering. To do this, head over to |
| lurking in your heart, consider that | | | | the U.S. Bureau of Labor website and |
| fellow graduates in different | | | | have a look at the Occupational |
| disciplines may walk into jobs paying as | | | | Handbook. |