If you walked across campus and randomly asked students what their majors are, you would get responses such as engineering, biology, chemistry, business, nursing, etc.
However, what most of these students would not be able to tell you right away is why they are in said major and what they want to do with it.
Most students in college are expected to declare a major around the age of 18. The likelihood of someone of that age knowing exactly what they want to do for the rest of their lives is slim to none. So, why do colleges and or universities feel the need to push students to make such large decisions when they have relatively little to no college experience?
The common conflict that tends to appear when people pick a major is the difference between passion and ability. Some people pick a major based on what they are good at. For example, there are many people in the world that are extremely talented in the areas of science and math. However, many of these people could have a passion and drive that correlates more to the areas of arts and humanities. A lot of students choosing a potential major for their four years at college are choosing based upon what they think they are good at and what may be easier for them along the way. Not all students actually pick a major based on what they are truly passionate about in life due to the potential conflicts and hardships that may come along with that decision.
Another common conflict that arises when one is making major decisions about their future is job stability versus pay. There are many jobs that are reliable and are almost always abundant and available. However, there are also jobs that may not be as stable and abundant, but the pay that comes along with that job may be worth the risk. College students think about this topic when deciding on a potential major depending on what aspects matters more to their future selves.
As an incoming student, you are going to be swayed in many different directions by many different people on the topic. There are those that believe a STEM major is the best overall route, and there are people who believe solely in the humanities. However, all in all it is truly what you are passionate about and what you want your future to look like.
The truth of it all really comes from the fact that you can only plan your future so much. Every year the job market changes and shifts depending on new trends and technology. There may be an area of study that you are passionate about that could be obsolete when the time comes for you to obtain a job. Or, tt could work out to your advantage that what you want to do with your life becomes very popular in the job market and you can begin working straight out of college. You cannot guarantee what your future will look like based solely on what your major is in college. Saying this however, whatever route you decide to take in your college career will never be a wash. Your education as a whole will always benefit you, and no matter what happens in the future, your education and the skills you have learned will continue to aid you in whatever future endeavors come your way.
