Major Key
Don't Stress Out Over What
To Study in College

By Caitlin J. Noris
Special to The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition

'So, what's your major?"

That's the million-dollar question, incoming freshmen. You'll be asked it over and over by your parents, friends, teachers and prospective employers. It's easy to believe that your entire future rests solely on whether you major in biomedical engineering or communications. In fact, you're probably already experiencing some anxiety over what to major in.

Well, I'm here to assure you that not only is being undecided acceptable, but it might actually work to your benefit by exposing you to more options.

While freshman year is the best time to begin thinking about your future, you certainly don't have to write anything in stone. In fact, most college students will change their intended major several times as they grow older and experience new things. It's perfectly normal to be a little unsure.

For example, during my first year and a half of college, I seriously considered at least five (yes, five!) different majors. I nearly drove myself crazy, took several unnecessary classes, and wasted hundreds of tuition dollars. When I finally settled on my two majors, I realized I could've spared myself a marathon of worry if I had merely done a little more research-into myself and my future career.

Here's what you need to do:

Assess who you are and what you want out of life. If you're lucky, you'll find a major that fits right into your career goals, but it's OK if you don't. At the very least, your major ought to be something you like. After all, you're going to spend four years studying this topic in considerable depth.

So start by taking an inventory of what you like, dislike and absolutely cannot stand. Consider the classes you have both enjoyed and struggled in during high school. At college, the courses only get harder. Homework is constant, the information is more in-depth, and a few tests or assignments determine your entire grade. There's nothing wrong with having to work extra hard if you love the subject, but factor in your academic strengths and weaknesses when choosing your major.

Also, flip through your college course catalog and circle classes that sound interesting. Ask the professor if you can sit in on a lecture. You may discover an interest you never realized you had!

Next, assess your value structure. Do you desire job stability or risky opportunities for growth? Do you enjoy working alone or in teams? Where do you want to live-the suburbs or the city? These questions may be difficult to answer now, but the further you get, the more you'll be able to focus on the most realistic possibilities. For example, if you've always dreamed of being a lawyer, but you hate working with people, you might want to tweak your plans a little bit.

By the way, money is not a good reason to major in something. I originally enrolled in business school because I thought I could become rich. Well, I might have ended up wealthy, but I probably would have been one unhappy accountant. Bottom line: You can't just love the salary; you've got to love the job, too.

Understand what your desired career will entail. If you choose a major that takes you down a relatively fixed career path-such as premed or prelaw-make sure you know what you're getting into. Certain career paths are arduous and expensive to train for. For example, most doctors complete undergraduate school at age 22, attend medical school until age 26, do a three- to five-year residency at a hospital, and might not begin their professional careers until they're 30! Can you wait that long?

Some careers, like many corporate positions, will require you to work overtime or on weekends. Others careers, such as social work, have more predictable schedules but may frequently expose you to upsetting situations. While the benefits of all these jobs are numerous, they aren't for everyone. Research jobs on the Internet or talk to professionals in that field for more information. Also, if you plan on graduate school, keep an eye on your grades and make sure you take all the necessary steps to qualify you for entrance. You don't want to miss any important exams or deadline dates!

Get some real-life experience. The most important thing you can do while in college is to gain experience outside of the classroom. Whether you intend to work after completing your degree or attend graduate school, it's imperative to experience the career in the "real world."

Internships are a great way to do this. Internships can last from a few weeks to a couple of years, and the position will allow you to practice the career without actually committing to it. Other ways to gain experience include volunteer positions or shadowing a professional for a day. Plus, all these activities will look great on your resume, allow you to network with future employers and help you narrow your interests.

Recognize that your major doesn't dictate your future. It sure seems as if your major is pivotal in deciding your career; in reality, majors and careers don't neatly line up. (I know an extremely successful pharmaceutical sales representative who majored in English!) So don't look for that "perfect" major for a particular job or career; it matters more that the major suit you. Plus, most college graduates change careers several times, regardless of their major.

Choosing a major is a big decision. Not life-and-death big, but it can make the difference between a worthwhile college career and a wasted one. So make use of your college's career-services department and your faculty adviser during your freshman year. Through a little research and soul-searching, you'll find your major and love it.

Except when it's finals week. But that, future freshmen, is a tale for later.