9 Myths About Choosing a Major

It's important to understand these myths and misconceptions about choosing majors and careers.

It's a Myth

1. Most students enter college certain about their majors and career options. Many students, even students committed to a major, feel uncertainty about their course of study and its connection to a career path. Being undeclared does not mean you are indecisive. Exploring major and career possibilities can be a positive experience - and preferable to choosing a major that may not be a good match.
2. Taking an introductory course is the best way to learn about a major and department. Taking an introductory course is one way to help you decide on a possible course of study, but not the only way. You can also review major requirements and attend departmental events where you can talk to faculty and student majors about the academic program. Also, remember that your interest level may be lower in introductory courses because instructors cover a wide range of topics without the focus and depth you receive in upper-level courses. Consider the topics you found most engaging in your introductory course and find out if there are upper-level courses focused on these interests.
3. Deciding on a major means deciding on a career. Although selecting a major and a career are often related, selecting one does not mean you are automatically committed to the other - especially at a liberal arts university like OWU. For example, if you major in English, you might find work in teaching, publishing, and other fields related to the major, but also in business, human resources, law, and other occupations. Choosing a major does not limit you to one occupation or career. Search What Can I Do with This Major?
4. Choosing a major will determine what I do for the rest of my life. Your undergraduate major may lead to a specific job but will not determine what you do over the next 40-plus years. Within 10 years after graduation, many people are working in areas that have no direct connection to their undergraduate majors. Job obsolescence, emerging job opportunities, and the need for new life challenges are among the reasons that people change jobs and even careers.
5. Choosing a major means giving up other areas of study. Not necessarily. You can combine your academic interests in a number of ways, including a second major, a self-designed interdisciplinary major, one or more minors, and a graduate degree in an area unrelated to your undergraduate major.
6. Deciding on a major means first deciding on a career. Many students first choose a major, a subject area that interests and motivates them, and then later decide on a career compatible with their interests, skills, and values. Remember, with the exception of several majors, such as nursing and engineering, many occupations do not require a specific course of study.
7. Employers are looking to fill positions with graduates who have specific majors. Employers acknowledge that what you learn in a specific major contributes to your success in the workplace. But they also say that some of the most important skills for their employees are skills like critical thinking, problem solving, written and oral communication, and decision-making, with will serve employees in any work situation. For many employers, the skills students develop across their full college experience are as important, at times more important, as the knowledge gained in an undergraduate major.
8. Changing my major will prevent me from graduating in four years. You can still graduate in four years if you have completed, at the end of your fourth or even fifth semester, most of your basic requirements and at least one or two courses that would count toward the new major. If necessary, you could take an extra course in a semester or summer courses to achieve your four-year graduation goal.
9. I should rely on input from parents and other before I decide on a major and a career. Well, yes and no. Gathering information from others, including your parents, can help you to process your thoughts, gain perspective, and make a purposeful decision about your major and career. Too often, however, students accept the choices of their parents as their own and decide, at least initially, on a major and career that do not reflect their own values, interests, and goals.