How to Choose a Major According to Your Interests and Talents

Choose your major according to your interests and talents (source: Unsplash/Quinton Coetzee)

Those who will or have graduated from high school/equivalent must have started thinking about what major they should take. Worries may arise, not to mention if your parents pressure you to take a major you don’t like. It is not easy to choose a major.

The reality is that many students feel they are taking the wrong major, and many people share that they are working in a field that has no relation to their major. Many people share that whatever major you take, you will learn something from whatever major you take and find what you like (even if you feel like you’re in the wrong major). Because when you go to college, you will experience various things that can lead to new interests and skills. But of course, students will feel more comfortable and confident if they have certainty when taking a major. For those confused, don’t worry. This article will share how to determine a major according to your interests and talents.

Is it Important to Match Your Major with Your Passion?

(source: Unsplash/Brett Jordan)

When contemplating a major, many will say, “choose the one that fits your passion.” Is it true? Do you really have to choose a major that matches your interests, talents or passion?

The answer is yes and no. Yes, because you will spend four years learning something. If you learn about the things you love, undoubtedly, those four years will not be wasted. You will also be more interested and enthusiastic when learning if you learn about things you like. No, because in today’s world, we all have to think realistically. Not necessarily your passion can give you the best career in the future. There is no definite answer to whether “follow your passions” is the right advice for students. Moreover, students’ passions tend to change, and not all students necessarily have things they are passionate about.

Therefore, one solution that can be done is to find a middle way by knowing your interests, talents, and skills. Let’s read some tips when choosing a major to minimize the chances of choosing the wrong major.

Also read: Get to Know The Business Major and its Job Prospects.

How to Choose a Major

(source: Unsplash/@mikael_k)

• Think about what you like

This is the most basic way of choosing a major. What are your aspirations? What do you like? Do you like writing, drawing, or maybe computers? Knowing what you want can be the first step in choosing a major. Learning what you love can motivate you to study harder while in college. Remember to choose a major according to your wants, not what your parents or friends want. 

• Think about the courses you are good at

Don’t know what you want or like? No problem. The first thing you can do is think about the courses or subjects you are good at. From there, you can look for the majors that match the courses you’re good at.

This doesn’t just apply to students who don’t know what they like. Keep in mind that passions can change and develop. Students can compare their interests with the courses or subjects they are good at. Is it in line? Or much different.

• Determine what your career goals are

Most students, of course, go to college to find a decent job. Think about what career you want to take in the future. Students can adjust their college majors to their career goals. Want to be a news anchor? You can major in journalism.

• Get to know your personality

Not only about what you like or your career goals; you have to know yourself first. Doing this can also help students with no particular interest in a major or field.

For example, you are interested in becoming a journalist but are not good at dealing with people and talking. This can hinder the process of studying and even working later because, generally, when majoring in journalism, you will be asked to interview various people who require you to at least be good at approaching people and speaking. This doesn’t mean you can’t major in journalism, but you can do this as one of the considerations when choosing a major. If unsure about your personality, you can take online personality tests or consult an expert.

• Know your capabilities

“Do what you love” sounds very simple, but we must be more realistic. Keep in mind that you will spend approximately four years in college, and it’s not cheap. Therefore, in addition to knowing what you like, it is also essential to know what you are capable of. To succeed in college and your career, you need more than just “likes.” Are you good at doing what you love? Abilities or skills are not only hard skills but also soft skills.

However, remember that college is a great time to develop new or underutilized skills. While it would be more useful and convenient to choose a major that you are already good at or an expert at, don’t immediately reject a major because you have never had direct experience with the subject before. Be willing to explore new skills while you’re considering a major.

• Research on job opportunities

Especially for students who want to ensure their future careers, you can research job opportunities. What positions or talents is the industry looking for? What majors have broad job opportunities?

• Check the curriculum of majors at various universities

This particular tip on choosing a major is rarely discussed, but it can be beneficial. Maybe you are thinking, why look at the university curriculum when you are unsure about what major you want to take?

Doing this can give you an idea of ​​your college life, the courses you will study, and the expectations of these universities for students taking that major. Remember to compare the curricula from different universities, not just one. From there, you can determine whether the major you are interested in suits you.

You can also see courses or curricula of other majors (not only the majors you like). You may find a major that is more suitable for you. Remember that you may have more than one interest, so don’t stick to just one major or field.

• Take an aptitude test

If you want more certainty, you can do an aptitude test with a psychologist. From there, your hobbies, personality, and skills will be analyzed in detail, and you will be given several majors and jobs that are suitable for you. But to get an accurate answer,  ensure you answer all the questions honestly.

Also read: Getting to know the UMN VCD Department and Its Tuition Fees.

Those are the tips on how to choose a major according to your interests and talents. It is important to remember that the eight tips above must all be considered (you can’t just pick one).

“Students are most likely to benefit from higher education if they have passion and purpose in choosing their course of study,” Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive of Ucas, told Forbes. In essence, when considering, you must choose the major you like and are good at. 

Sumber:

• Penulis
• Forbes
• Edmit
• We Admit

By Levina Chrestella Theodora | UMN News Service

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

Kuliah di Jakarta untuk jurusan program studi Informatika | Sistem Informasi | Teknik Komputer | Teknik Elektro | Teknik Fisika | Akuntansi | Manajemen| Komunikasi Strategis | Jurnalistik | Desain Komunikasi Visual | Film dan Animasi | Arsitektur | D3 Perhotelan , di Universitas Multimedia Nusantara. www.umn.ac.id