When many of us were little, we told our family members, teachers, and friends what we wanted to be when we grew up. For some, that dream career may have stayed the same, and for others, it has changed. There tends to be pressure to know what we want to do with our lives at a very young age. In junior high, we are told that we need to prepare for high school, and in high school to prepare for college.
People tend to feel obligated to choose a certain area of study or have the goal of a specific career because of those in their lives who have influenced them. Sometimes, these influences are positive, and someone is truly passionate about a subject that someone else introduced them to. Other times though, it’s because their parents told them what would be the best career choice, or they were told that what they really wanted to do was not a good choice, and this pushed them away from that true interest.
I had several friends who did not know what they wanted to major in during high school, or if they even wanted to go to college at all. They either found their calling outside of a college degree, are still unsure, or majored in what they are passionate about despite what others have said. It is important to look into the major before declaring it to see what courses are required. Additionally, it is helpful to look at the career outlook and see if fit your interests and strengths. This will save you time, money, and stress.
If you decide to apply for graduate school, you can typically apply to graduate programs even if you didn’t receive an undergraduate degree that is particularly relevant to that program. It may require prerequisites before applying or a leveling program after being accepted. Look into the graduate programs that you’re interested in before you complete your undergraduate degree if your goal is to get admitted shortly after you graduate.
Keep in mind how much tuition is for each school as it can be challenging or not possible to work while in grad school. Meet with your current academic advisor and/or future graduate advisor as it can be very eye-opening and beneficial. Apply for several schools to have multiple options, but make sure they are schools you would actually want to attend. Look into the application and program requirements several months to years before applying. Apply for your dream schools (even if you’re hesitant because it’s elite) and also to schools that you think would be a good fit and you are more confident about getting into.Â
Do what feels best for you; you’ve got this!Â