How To Find A College Major That Matches Your Interests
Choosing a college major can feel overwhelming, especially when you're barely old enough to vote but expected to make a decision that could shape your entire career. If you're feeling uncertain about what to study, you're definitely not alone. According to research, nearly 75% of college students change their major at least once, and up to 80% of students entering college admit they're not certain what they really want to major in.
The good news? Being undecided is completely normal, and there are proven strategies to help you make this important decision with confidence.
Start With Self-Reflection
Before diving into specific majors, take time for honest self-assessment. The most successful students choose majors that align with who they are mentally, intellectually, and emotionally.
Examine Your Academic Strengths
Look at your high school transcript and ask yourself these key questions:
Which subjects do you take at the most advanced level (honors or AP classes)?
What classes consistently earn your highest grades?
Which subjects do you enjoy year after year, regardless of the teacher or specific assignments?
Your academic performance patterns often reveal natural aptitudes that can guide major selection. Research from the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation shows that students who choose majors based on their natural aptitudes are significantly less likely to change majors later—only 38% compared to 50% who don't consider aptitudes.
Identify Your Core Interests & Values
Consider what genuinely excites you beyond just academic subjects. Do you love solving complex puzzles? Engineering or computer science might appeal to you. Are you fascinated by understanding human behavior? Psychology or sociology could be good fits. Do you enjoy helping others achieve their goals? Education or social work might align with your values.
Remember, there's often a societal bias around certain aptitudes. For example, many assume males have stronger STEM aptitudes, but research shows that 64% of female students actually have the aptitudes for STEM careers.
Explore Real-World Applications
Academic coursework only tells part of the story. To truly understand if a major is right for you, seek experiences that mirror actual careers in that field.
Conduct Informational Interviews
One of the most valuable strategies is talking directly with professionals in careers that interest you. Most adults are happy to share their experiences and offer insights about their daily work, challenges, and rewards. Ask parents, teachers, coaches, and counselors to connect you with professionals in various industries.
Plan to spend 15-20 minutes per conversation (or “interview”) and come prepared with specific questions about their educational background, typical work day, career progression, and industry outlook.
Gain Hands-On Experience
Seek opportunities for job shadowing, internships, volunteering, or part-time work in fields that interest you. These experiences can be incredibly helpful—sometimes confirming your interest, other times helping you realize a field isn't the right fit. Both outcomes are valuable for making an informed decision.
Research Major Requirements & Career Outcomes
Don't just rely on course titles or general descriptions. Dig deep into what each major actually requires and where it leads.
Understand Academic Expectations
Each college structures majors differently, so research specific program requirements at schools you're considering. Look at:
Required core courses vs. elective options
Flexibility within the program structure
Opportunities for concentrations or specializations
Requirements for capstone projects, internships, or study abroad
If more than a few required courses don't interest you, you might want to reconsider that major.
Consider Financial Realities
While money shouldn't be your only consideration, understanding salary potential helps you make realistic career plans. Recent data shows significant salary differences by major:
Highest-paying fields for recent graduates (2025):
Computer Engineering: $80,000
Chemical Engineering: $79,000-$80,000
Computer Science: $78,000-$80,000
Aerospace Engineering: $74,000-$76,000
Electrical Engineering: $78,000
Other strong-earning majors:
Finance: $70,000
Economics: $70,000
Nursing: $65,000
Physics: $70,000
However, some traditionally lower-paying fields are showing surprising strength in the job market. Philosophy graduates have a 3.2% unemployment rate, while finance majors face 3.7% unemployment. This highlights the importance of considering both salary potential and job availability.
Graduate School Considerations
If you're planning to pursue graduate education, your undergraduate major choice becomes even more strategic. Some graduate programs prefer students from diverse academic backgrounds. For example, many selective MBA programs actually prefer students who didn't major in business as undergraduates, valuing the different perspectives they bring.
For students planning careers requiring advanced degrees (medicine, law, academia), focus on majors that will help you develop strong analytical, writing, and research skills while maintaining a high GPA.
Options For Undecided Students
If you're still uncertain, many colleges offer structured support for exploration.
Exploratory Studies Programs
Many universities have formal exploratory or undecided programs that provide:
Specialized academic advising
Career exploration courses
Exposure to various academic departments
Time to complete general education requirements while exploring options
These programs recognize that taking time to explore often leads to better long-term outcomes. Students who spend dedicated time exploring their options are more likely to choose the right major the first time and avoid graduation delays.
Liberal Arts Foundations
Consider starting with a broad liberal arts approach, especially at schools that don't require major declaration until sophomore year. This gives you time to explore different disciplines while building critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills that employers increasingly value across industries.
How Your Major Choice Affects High School Planning
Your intended major should influence your high school course selection and activities.
Academic Preparation
Take the most rigorous courses available in subjects related to your intended major. If you're considering STEM fields, maximize your math and science coursework. For humanities fields, focus on advanced English, history, and foreign language classes. This preparation not only builds necessary skills but also demonstrates genuine commitment to admissions officers.
Extracurricular Alignment
While you shouldn't join activities solely for resume building, seek meaningful involvement in areas related to your academic interests. If you're considering journalism, work on the school newspaper. Interested in business? Start a small enterprise or join DECA or other business-related clubs. The key is demonstrating sustained engagement and leadership in areas that align with your academic goals.
Emerging Trends To Consider
The job market is evolving rapidly, creating new opportunities and challenges.
STEM vs. Liberal Arts Debate
While STEM fields traditionally offer higher starting salaries, there's growing recognition of the value of liberal arts skills. Major employers like BlackRock are actively seeking graduates with backgrounds in history, English, and other non-technical fields, recognizing that artificial intelligence makes creative thinking and adaptability increasingly valuable.
Healthcare & Sustainability Growth
Healthcare continues showing strong growth, with nursing unemployment at just 1.4%. Similarly, agricultural and natural resources majors are seeing salary increases due to growing focus on sustainability.
The AI Factor: Understanding Automation's Impact on Career Paths
Perhaps the most significant consideration for your generation is the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its potential to reshape entire industries. Current research indicates that 30% of jobs could be automated by 2030, with 60% having tasks significantly modified by AI. However, this doesn't mean you should panic—it means you should plan strategically.
Jobs at highest risk for AI displacement include:
Data entry and clerical work (already seeing rapid elimination)
Customer service representatives (being replaced by AI chatbots)
Basic content writing and copywriting (81.6% of marketers fear AI replacement)
Entry-level software engineering tasks (30% of Microsoft's code is now AI-written)
Routine financial analysis and credit processing
Basic graphic design and advertising tasks
However, fields showing strong resistance to AI automation include:
Healthcare professions requiring human interaction and clinical judgment (nursing has only 1.4% unemployment)
Education and training roles that demand emotional intelligence and personalized instruction
Mental health and counseling fields requiring empathy and human connection
Skilled trades like plumbing, electrical work, and mechanical repair that require physical dexterity
Creative problem-solving roles in engineering, architecture, and design that require innovation beyond AI's current capabilities
The key insight: Rather than avoiding technology entirely, focus on majors that position you to work with AI rather than compete against it. Computer science majors who understand AI development, healthcare professionals who can integrate AI diagnostic tools, and business leaders who can manage AI-human teams will be in high demand. As billionaire Mark Cuban predicted in 2017, "there's going to be a greater demand for liberal arts majors than programming majors" because AI struggles with the critical thinking, communication, and creative reasoning that humanities education develops.
Interdisciplinary Opportunities
Many universities now offer interdisciplinary majors that combine multiple fields of study. These programs can be ideal for students with diverse interests or those looking to stand out in competitive markets. Consider programs that blend AI with other disciplines—like AI + psychology, AI + business, or AI + ethics—as these represent the future of work where human judgment guides technological capabilities.
Making Your Final Decision
When you're ready to choose, consider this strategic approach:
Apply to your strongest academic area: Choose the major where you have the most compelling evidence through coursework, grades, and related activities
Avoid "gaming the system": Don't declare an easier major just to improve admission chances—this can backfire if you can't later transfer to your preferred program and admissions officers can easily spot applicants applying through a “backdoor major”
Consider program selectivity: At schools with competitive majors, it may be harder to transfer later, so choose carefully from the start
Stay flexible: Remember that your major doesn't lock you into one career path forever—many successful professionals work in fields unrelated to their undergraduate studies
The Bottom Line
Choosing a college major is significant, but it's not irreversible. The critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills you develop in college are often more important to employers than your specific major. Focus on finding a field that combines your interests, aptitudes, and career goals, while remaining open to the possibility that your path may evolve.
Take advantage of your high school years to explore, ask questions, and gain real-world experience. The more you learn about yourself and potential career paths now, the more confident you'll feel about your choice—and the more successful you'll be in whatever field you ultimately pursue.
Remember: being undecided doesn't mean being unprepared. It means being thoughtful about one of the most important decisions of your academic career.