There are two big pop-the-question moments in life. One comes when that special someone gets down on one knee. However, the alternate and far more daunting question presents itself the moment you graduate from high school. Stepping off that fake grass field in your cap and gown takes you into treacherous territory. Instantly you meet none other than “So, what do you plan on doing with your life?”
Rather than freeze in fear of the life you haven’t lived yet flashing before your eyes, take a look below for 10 great majors to take when you have no clue what you plan on doing:
1. Psychology
Starting off strong with none other than psychology, this major offers a multitude of opportunities. (Which may just be why it is the fourth most popular undergraduate major.) Not only will psychology be useful for understanding yourself and others, but it will also offer diverse options when it comes to a field of work. Despite what popular media demonstrates, psychology is not just for those who want to be a therapist— though just within therapy there are numerous paths such as divorce therapy, child therapy and addiction therapy.
“I chose psychology as a major to keep my options later on open. In general, I thought psychology was a good major that I could then later go into med school or law school or continue along a very psychology specific path you know such as being a therapist. But, I have time to decide what to do and I can lean more in the biological side of psychology or more of a business marketing side,” UCLA freshman Katrina Smith said.
Perhaps you want to be a therapist, physician or a metal health counselor. Or maybe you want to steer in the direction of law school, go into social work or even become a caseworker. Even if none of these paths intrigue you, psychology as a major maintains use beyond these spheres. It also plays into the business environment as psychology majors can work as research assistants. With such a variety of options, psychology could be the porridge in the cottage that tastes just right.
2. Communications
If you happen to want to look far beyond the realm of psychology, welcome to the communications major. A fabulous choice and quite useful for career advancement, Communications fits right into management opportunities, advertising, journalism, and even government. Do you happen to be an avid fan of West Wing? Well, if you could not help but feel in awe of CJ Cregg then it may please you to learn that a communications major is great for following the path of a press secretary. Not to mention, a broad scope of professional work spaces seek this skillset.
3. Business
Going down the route of a business major will surely open up an entire universe of possibilities. Perhaps because the hustle and bustle never end in the world of business. Trying out this path would be a fantastic way to get your feet wet and figure out whether it suits you. With a variety of paths, you can take down Marketing Lane, or Advertising Avenue, maybe even Consultant Corner, the world suddenly becomes a whole lot bigger. You may as well give it a try.
“Business is a comprehensive field of study as it provides many different opportunities for a professional career while being useful for everyone in daily life,” Director of Operators at Goethe International Charter School Biggi Schilcher said. “As an executive in the corporate world one can choose different paths depending on personal interest and skill set. Some occupations are numbers-oriented, others are people-oriented. Some are local, while others include lots of traveling. Some require an individual to be flexible and rather extroverted, when others are routine tasks that can be done without much interaction.”
Regardless of where life ends up taking you, acquiring an understanding of basic economic principles can only help you. Knowing the ins and outs from the world markets to a firms’ financial outlook acts as a most useful skill. Developing this understanding and familiarity with business will open doors in various industries, which will propel promising options going forward. Ultimately, there are an abundant number of roles that need filling in the business world, and you may just end up joining the cause. Good luck!
4. English
As an English major, I may just be a tiny bit biased towards this field. However, I feel that when it comes to English, if the humanities calls to you, drawing you in, it can’t go wrong. The typical occupations may come to mind such as editors, authors and teachers, but on the flip side lies the daunting pre-law path. Ultimately, when you think about it, any professional field requires those who gravitate towards the quill. Not only gravitate towards it but also know what it means to be a disciplined writer who can compose strong, compelling work. In this sense, English works well for those who don’t know what they want to do because writing is needed everywhere, so the possibilities for the future are endless.
5. Biology
Ah, biology. Once the good old days with Bill Nye the Science Guy and now every pre-med student’s biggest fear— or maybe chemistry takes that cake. Either way, the abundance of sectors within the bio-sphere (haha) may result in you finding your passionate niche. Did the psychology major grab your attention earlier, but you wanted to get more into the biology side of things? You can walk down the occupational therapist road! If not, I can list some potential options. For instance, the cellular biologist, disease researcher and forensic scientist. With so many choices, I wish you the best of luck figuring it all out!
6. Computer Scientist
Ever-growing, technology propels the world into the future. Why not join that future? From software developers to IT and support members, this field offers a ton of wiggle room. If you find yourself passionate about CS then you will grow more and more grateful that you went down this also lucrative path. The question is how you discover whether computer science holds a special place in your heart.
“I decided on being a Computer Science major when I joined a robotics team run by the nonprofit F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in elementary school,” Cal Lutheran freshman Scott Wegley said. “The experience of dragging and dropping blocks of code to make a robot do what you want stuck with me. I liked it enough to continue with their middle and high school teams and only fell more in love with the challenge programming presented.”
Overall, the work that comes from computer science brings about much personal reward. Plus, you will never find yourself out of work. The world will always need web developers, network system administrators and business intelligence analysts, etc. If you have no clue what you want to major in or what to do with your life, testing out computer science is worth your while. Fingers crossed.
7. Economics Major
If you see this title and think “ugh, math. Skip.” The scope of economics ranges from far more than just math and money. Though if you like money, I’d stick with it. This, similar to business, benefits the student beyond the classroom by equipping them with the tools to better understand the world through a variety of lenses. Economics applies to health care and education, environmental policy and law, as well as politics and money. Those who love to ponder can gain so much from such a major and find themselves equipped to make a career in Washington DC, specifically in government, if they so wish.
8. Liberal arts
Now, this major was designed for exploring options. The liberal arts major covers many degrees of study such as writing, history, philosophy, literature, creative arts and more. The plethora of fields you will get to tap into offers a broad disciplinary approach. By taking a variety of classes you have the opportunity to discover what best fits you. You may even discover a hidden interest. A few occupations that can come of a liberal arts major includes a technical writer, event planner, human resource specialist and mediator. This wide span of individual occupations indicates the fluency the liberal arts major offers regarding skillsets developed.
9. History
The value of the history degree depends on the individual considering it. Personally, I adore history, however if you hold a genuine interest in it, but something or someone is holding you back perhaps listen to your gut. Getting a degree in history means that you will develop critical analytical and research skills. Not only this, but you will also develop cultural awareness. You will gain a mastery of skills that are relevant in a great many fields of work, while also following a subject that engages and interests you. A major that is rewarding in more ways than one.
10. Public Policy
Now at the end of the road, I sure hope you found a major of your liking. If not, here lies the final major. Public policy, a versatile major, applies to countless fields such as data analysis and political science. Public policy focuses on community problems as well as lawmaking at all levels such as local, state, and federal. This can also expand into advocacy efforts. Do you like research? If so, this may be optimal for you as public policy majors often have research related jobs such as lobbyists and working in government agencies.
