What Should I Go To School For? All Your Questions Answered
Updated: June 19, 2024
Published: December 17, 2019
Currently, there seems to be a lot of debate surrounding which college majors are worth pursuing. With a large selection of majors being offered by countless colleges, and a lot of talk about high-paying jobs that don’t even require a college degree, you may find yourself struggling to determine which college major you should sign up for in order to land your dream job. If the big question on your mind is “what should I go to school for,” then follow these guidelines in order to select the perfect major that can benefit your future.
1. What Are Your Passions?
Firstly, ask yourself if there are any fields of study in which you have developed a great personal interest. By pursuing something you are passionate about, you not only give yourself the opportunity to enjoy your studies, but you also decrease the chance of regretting the major you chose or second guessing yourself. Not to mention that you will more likely become motivated to complete your degree.
For example, if you are incredibly passionate about helping others, it may be a good idea to consider majoring in health science. This major will allow you the opportunity to pursue a career in healthcare, and give you the chance to help countless people throughout your career.
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2. Financial Security
While pursuing a major you enjoy is important, you should also ensure that your chosen major can lead to a well-paying job. This does not mean giving up on your passion for money; it simply means being willing to adjust to a better paying job that happens to still be within your field of study.
For example, if you especially enjoy art, studying graphic design could be a great major to look into — it combines the creativity found within visual art with the opportunity to earn a higher income.
3. Does It Prepare You For Your Career?
To help narrow down your options, clearly define your long-term career goals as well as your short-term objectives. Browse through the majors that fall within your field of interest and determine which of these options align themselves with your goals. This will help you decide on a college major that will assist you in achieving your goals.
For example, if you have a long-term goal of developing a mobile app, then pursuing computer science as a major at the University of the People will allow you to learn all of the skills required for doing so. We even offer a Mobile Applications class as an elective!
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4. Is It Achievable?
Due to the high academic standards of tertiary education, you will need to have an aptitude for your major in order to complete your degree. This is a consideration to have while determining which majors you should eliminate from your potential selection.
This does not, however, mean that you should immediately stop considering a major that you are interested in because you don’t feel that you have a knack for it. Rather, see if it is possible to receive academic assistance before deciding not to pursue it.
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5. Will It Remain Relevant In The Future?
Following the industrial changes being brought about by technological advancements, many jobs are now being phased out due to businesses deciding to use technology to accomplish the tasks that human workers were once used to complete.
An example of this would be booking websites that allow you to book accommodation, flights, and other activities for your holiday itinerary. Such websites are gradually phasing out the need for travel agents.
There are other careers, however, that are less likely to be phased out. One example would be teaching. Education remains a necessity for global populations, regardless of how much time progresses, and teachers are needed to provide learners with a foundation of knowledge in schools, colleges, and other institutions.
6. Job Opportunities
It is important to ensure that your chosen major will provide you with the opportunity to easily find a job soon after completing it. It is also important to remain open minded, and consider taking a major that provides you with a number of potential career paths. Some majors may even allow you to branch out into other professions entirely because of the skill sets that they equip you with.
For example, if you were to pursue a major in Business Administration, you would be provided with an array of job options, including positions in business analysis, finance, marketing, and human resources. You may even be able to use the skills that you have acquired to another profession, such as being a journalist who covers business or financial news.
7. Majors That Are Most In Demand
To assist you in determining which majors are most likely to provide you with job opportunities, we have put together the following graph:
Due to their high value and demand, University of the People offers its students the opportunity to pursue majors in business administration, computer science, health science and education. Consider learning more about these majors and discover how they could provide you with promising career paths.
8. Reasons For Going To School
While we’ve now covered why it is important to choose the correct college major, you may still be wondering why it is necessary to pursue a college major in the first place, particularly if there are many people who got jobs without attending college.
Here are the main reasons why a college education is so important:
Firstly, college gives you the chance to become an expert in your field. Specialized college degrees provide students with industry knowledge that can only be attained by studying a graduate degree.
College also gives you the chance to develop soft skills such as verbal and written communication, as well as problem solving. This will allow you to communicate better with your work colleagues.
When participating in numerous college classes at once, you will find yourself having to study for many quizzes, assignments, and exams. You will eventually learn how to multitask and make sure that you meet all of your deadlines. This will result in you developing your time management skills.
Attending college may also give you the opportunity to interact with your classmates, make new friends, and provide valuable networking opportunities and connections. When you are doing group projects, you will need to learn how to work effectively with other people, which is a skill that you will need when you find a job.
Finally, completing college will help you to boost your self-esteem. Completing a college major is never easy, and by doing so, you can take pride in your hard work and abilities. If you were also able to study something you are interested in, you may also find that your personal happiness has improved.
Now that you have been given the tools to select the right major, start your journey towards beginning the college experience and developing the right career for you!