First of all, think about what you like to study and what you would like to do in college.

If you’re interested in pursuing a degree in business, but the thought of taking management and accounting classes makes you dread the start of the semester, then perhaps there is a choice that will better align with your interests.

If you find that many classes you have to take for a major don’t appeal to you, it may be important to consider if that’s a field you are actually interested in.

There are often other ways that you can get involved in an industry you find interesting. If you like healthcare but hate the idea of taking Anatomy and Pharmacology, consider if there are other areas of healthcare that may interest you more. For example, healthcare businesses still need accountants and marketing specialists. There may also be a related academic discipline that appeals to you (public health, social work, etc.).

Consider your interests. Make sure that you consider both educational and life interests when choosing a major.  In short, major in what you love and find interesting. Students who choose a major that they really love and enjoy are more likely to graduate and are also more likely to have better grades throughout college.

To explore your interests, try asking yourself the following questions:

• Do you have hobbies you’ve pursued for awhile?
• What awards or honors have you received in your life?
• What classes in your previous education did you find interesting?
• If you had to choose a topic to give a presentation on or write a paper about, what would you choose?
• What about your hobbies or interests do you enjoy? Can you find that component in a job/field?

Finally, stay away from “shoulds.” Should statements create unnecessary binary choices that may put unhelpful pressure on you. Examples of should statements are: “I should take this class because my parents want me to; I should know what my major is already; I should major in (insert major here) because that’s what I always thought I would go into.”

Try to put the “shoulds” aside when choosing your major. Instead, think about how you will consider input from various avenues to make an informed decision. A helpful way to reframe a should statement as a will statement could look like this: “I will weigh both my parents’ recommendations AND my own knowledge about my interests and abilities in order to choose a major.”