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