How to discern college major? (Math, Econ, Biochem)

emmamarie
Sat, 23 Apr 2016 20:40:26 +0000

Most people end up working in jobs that have little direct relationship to their major. Instead of focusing on a major, it might be useful to think about the kind of work that you would like to do and in what setting. Obviously, if you want to be a research chemist, you should study some form of chemistry, but if you’re not really sure what you want to do (which is completely normal for a college freshman), then keep your mind and options open. Check out the websites for the departments that interest you – some will have detailed information about the jobs their graduates take. Reach out to faculty or staff in those departments, and make sure to visit their tables during orientation. Don’t start worrying about master’s degrees before your first freshman course! Just take your time to think about what interests you, and do your best to take advantage of the tremendous academic and career resources provided by the university.