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How to Choose a Major When Everything Sounds Interesting

Sep 30, 2025

College student using microscope in science lab, symbolizing how to choose a major by exploring diverse interests and academic opportunities.

If you’re feeling pressure to choose a major, it may help to reframe the decision. You’re not committing to one job forever— you’re picking a starting point that builds useful skills while you continue to explore. A good choice does three things: it aligns with the way you like to learn, it connects to real opportunities, and it leaves room to adapt as you discover more.

 

Match How You Learn to What You’ll Do

Start by noticing where you naturally focus your energy. Do you light up in hands‑on labs, in community settings, or in data and analysis? Do you prefer structured assignments or open‑ended projects? When you match learning style with curriculum, courses feel purposeful and your confidence grows. This perspective shifts the question from “Which major is best?” to “Which major helps me practice the skills I want to use?”

 

Test Fit through Small Experiences

You don’t have to solve the puzzle from your desk. Visit a class, attend a department talk, drop by office hours, or volunteer for a short campus project. One afternoon in a lab, one conversation with a professor, or one shift at a community event can reveal more than pages of online research. Further, finding out what types of learning or professional experiences you don’t like as much can be just as valuable in narrowing down your interests. More than anything, trying as much as you can all helps to create data points for your focus. These tiny experiments not only help you choose a major, but also make your first semester richer, with new connections across the University. 

 

Use Advising as a Strategy Session

Advising at ɫ is personal. Bring your short list, a few observations from your small experiences, and two or three questions you can’t answer alone. Ask about course sequences and how easily you can switch or add a minor if your interests evolve. With thoughtful planning, many students keep momentum even when they refine direction mid‑stream.

 

Decide, Start, Keep Listening

When you pick a major, you’re not closing doors; you’re opening one and keeping the hallway lit. Choose a starting point, then keep paying attention to what energizes you and what drains you. If you stay curious and communicate with mentors, your path will make more sense each semester.

 

Explore What’s Possible at ɫ

Browse the complete list of majors, minors, and certificates to see how combinations can reflect your interests and goals. When you’re ready, schedule a campus visit to meet faculty and students in the programs you’re considering. Explore the programs list and connect with Academic Advising to map a first‑year plan.

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