Myths About Choosing a Major
MYTH: Choosing a major and a career are basically the same thing
A major focuses your course of study and allows you to develop expertise in a specific subject area. Ideally it is an area of study that excites you and utilizes your strengths and abilities! During your time in college, take advantage of experiences such as internships, co-op, and study abroad to help define your career and work interests. Although you may choose to pursue a job/career related to your major following graduating, do not feel as though you are limited. Employers in many industries are more interested in a student's practical experience (i.e. internship), transferable skills (i.e. communication skills), and positive attitude rather than his/her major in college.
MYTH: Somewhere there is a test or an expert that can tell me what to do for the rest of my life
Myth! Career interest inventories and personality inventories can help you identify your skills, interests, values, and preferences for work and indicate some majors or career areas to consider, but that's all. The answers are inside of you - don't be fooled into thinking that a "test" knows you better than you know yourself.
MYTH: The major I choose now will determine my lifelong career
Studies have shown that within ten years of graduation most people are working in careers that are not directly related to their undergraduate major. People change and careers change. New types of jobs emerge every year, and most of us have no idea what those jobs will be and what education/training will be required. Because of this, emphasis should be placed on choosing an area of study that interests/excites you as well as developing transferable skills (i.e. writing, communication, technical) that employers want and that graduates will need in order to adjust to rapidly changing careers.