Ask a rep –Should I know my major already?

Q: I have no idea what I want to do for a major. Is that normal? (I’m in 11th grade.) What can I do to help me decide?

A: Do you know what the most popular freshman college major is? Undecided! So if you are a high school junior and have no clue what you’ll major in, it’s perfectly normal!

Most colleges will have you declare your major during the second semester of your sophomore year. It’s always a good idea to begin thinking about the different majors that are out there, but don’t put pressure on yourself to choose a college major now.

Some students know exactly what they want to study, but the vast majority of students are open to different academic majors and future career paths.

That’s where a liberal arts education can come in handy. While in college, you can sample different courses to get an idea of what you like and what you don’t.

A great resource to get you started is The College Board’s Book of Majors, which lists 900 majors at more than 3,600 colleges nationwide.

Start with a mental inventory of what interests you in and outside of school. What are your favorite classes? What kinds of hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

One former student who was a whiz at Nintendo decided on a college major of video game design; another student who enjoyed her waitressing job majored in hospitality management with dreams of operating her own chic restaurant one day. Think outside of the box!

And while you’re thinking about that future major, keep in mind that you still have plenty of time to formally declare a major. Keeping your educational options open is half the fun!