It seems as if the Undecided major is becoming more and more popular with students these days and it’s completely understandable why.  With potential areas of study ranging from comic book art to bowling industry management, the possibilities of what to study can seem endless (bowling, eh?).  Although it’s great to have so many majors available to meet everyone’s unique interests, if you are someone who is questioning what you want to do in life, it can be a major obstacle.  Even students who have already decided on a major surely sometimes wonder how it will translate into a rewarding career.

Here are a few tips for deciphering what you really want to pursue in college and beyond because surely no one really wants to take that victory lap and be around for a 5th year of college.

Take a minute to think about what your real passions are and brainstorm how they might be turned into a career.  Whether it’s video games, traveling, etc., you might be surprised how what you thought was a hobby could possibly become a fulfilling career. 


Be Realistic

What you study in school should have at least something to do with what you want to pursue after graduation, whether it be a career or grad school.  Just because you’re a marketing major doesn’t mean you will have to find a job in marketing, but your major should provide you with knowledge or skills that will help you pursue your desired career-path, so keep that in mind.

Internships are a great way to experience different fields and figure out what you truly want to pursue.  A lot of internships don’t require a lot of prior experience specific to the field, so testing out different areas while you’re still in school is a good idea.  Even if you’re fairly certain what you want to pursue for a career, diversifying your internship experiences could make you appealing to future employers by making you appear well-rounded.

Call or email some of your business contacts and ask for a few minutes of their time to chat about what they do.  Be prepared with a list of questions you want to ask so you don’t end up with awkward silence during the conversation.  People currently doing the job you’re interested in can offer an interesting perspective on how they got there, what some of the challenges have been, etc.  If you don’t know anyone in the field you’re interested in, ask around for contacts or utilize your professors or school’s career center.