“What do you want to do after college?” Personally, I have always hated that question. I think it’s unfair that at seventeen or eighteen we are forced to choose what we want to do for the rest of our lives. That question stresses many people out because it seems like it requires a well thought out, somewhat permanent decision, but in reality, it doesn’t require any of that.
When I graduated high school, I decided that I was going to go into my freshman year of college as undecided. I initially wanted to major in psychology to be a military family and life counselor, but as I went through my freshman year, I started to realize that psychology really didn’t excite me anymore. I was glad that I had remained undecided, because I had the chance to better explore other options. I floated between different majors; running different scenarios through my head. Eventually, I found a calling towards English. It made sense to me because I had always loved reading and writing. As I began to research the degree, I also found out that there are so many different directions to go with the degree.
I realize that the decision is not always easy, and there isn’t just one way to figuring out an area of interest to pursue. But here are some tips to make the process a little bit easier.
1. Don’t choose a major based on the pressures of someone else.
Only you know what you want to do. Definitely listen to your parents and take into consideration the advice that they offer you. But don’t become a doctor simply because that’s what they want you to do. If you spend the rest of your life doing something someone else wanted you to, chances are likely that you won’t be happy.
2. Test the waters.
If you are undecided when you start college, try taking some different classes. Take some classes that you have never heard about before because you may find that you are extremely interested in it. You may find a class that really interests you– start looking into similar classes!
3. Meet with your advisors.
Their job is to know all of the different classes and degrees offered. Meet with them and discuss your concerns. Here at USFSP, we have the Career Center, which can be very useful for finding out what kind of jobs are available with different degrees. The Career Center might have you take a personality assessment, which will tell you what careers would be best for you based on your personality. They can also help you know what jobs are hiring and help you prepare for your interviews.
4. Talk to people who have jobs in whatever you’re interested in.
Not only will you make possible connections, but they can give you valuable insight and advice. They can tell you what a job is actually like and give you behind the scenes information. You can then take all of that information and decide which job sounds most interesting and exciting to you.
5. Keep an open mind.
Eventually everything will work out the way it is supposed to. Keep an open mind while you are doing research and taking different classes and talking to advisors. Don’t dismiss all degrees that involve math, because after you take a math class, you may find that you’re not that bad at it. You may find that you even enjoy it a little bit.
Overall, you need to choose a degree that you feel most comfortable in. For me, being an English major feels more right than being a psychology major. I’m excited to go to my classes and learn. I know that this is the right major for me, and I know that there are so many opportunities I can have with it. In the end, it’s all up to you. It doesn’t need to be a difficult, life changing decision; just go with what you feel is the best decision for you.
HC xoxo,
Alyssa Harmon
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