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How to choose a college major

Today's talent for tomorrow's jobs

Choosing what to major in is a crucial decision in which our skills, interests, and future plans play an important role.

You love people and helping others. You have always been crafty, and your ability to invent things has only grown over the years. You have a natural ability to communicate regardless of your audience. Every person is unique, and it's precisely in that uniqueness that lies one of the keys to figuring out what to study. However, if you're not sure what your natural talents are, there's no need worry. Since knowing what to study after high school is no easy task, there are many other aspects you can consider in order to make the right choice. And this is no simple matter. The degree you choose can determine your employability.

 

In recent years, new options have been added to the range of traditional degrees available, which are related to the challenges facing today's society.

Smart city and home architect or engineer, digital transformation specialist, climate warrior, biotechnologist, cybersecurity expert, etc. Surely many of them are already starting to ring a bell. In fact, if you're hesitating about what degree to study for the future, it's worth bearing in mind that several of them are in the top ten undergraduate degrees with the best job market outcomes, according to the latest report from the U-Ranking project, promoted, among others, by the Valencian Institute of Economic Research.

But, how do you know what to study? How do you know which college to study at? Self-knowledge, employability, or advising are just some of the factors that can help you answer these and other questions that usually haunt us when it comes to deciding what major to study.  

Six tips for choosing your perfect major

  1. Know yourself
    Understanding yourself is the first step to answering the question of how to know what degree to study.     Are you good with numbers? Are you more about finding the "why" of things? Reflect on your interests, passions, skills, and values. Ask yourself what you like to do, what areas you excel in, and what kind of work you would like to do in the future. 

  2. Research the degrees available
    Thoroughly researching the majors you're interested in is another practical tip for choosing what to study. Look into the syllabi, requirements, job opportunities, and growth prospects in each field. If you're unsure, employability may be another key factor in deciding what degree to study. Moreover, considering current and future trends in the job market will be of great help in narrowing down your choice.

  3. Listen to the voice of experience
    What can serve as guidance to find out what to study is a common question among those dealing with the task of deciding on the future of their education. But in the field of education, advisors are not the only professionals who can help you. Talking to people who work in the careers you're interested in can also be helpful. You can seek out mentors, professionals, or professors who can provide you information and guidance on different options. Their perspectives and advice can be very valuable.

    And that's not all. There are also other types of tools available to you such as aptitude tests. With these resources, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses in different areas and even discover skills you didn't know you had.

  4. Practice whenever you can
    Have you heard that only by putting theory into practice is how we'll see if something works? Well, immersing yourself in the field of your interest is the best way to find out whether you're on the right track. Since knowing what to study after high school is closely tied to your future career, why not get ahead of the curve? Look for opportunities to get hands-on experience related to the majors you're interested in. Volunteering or extracurricular projects can be a good place to start. These experiences will help you make an informed decision.

  5. Be flexible
    Choosing a major that aligns with your interests, skills, and career goals is the key to answering the big question: How do you know what to study? However, don't get hung up on one single option. Keeping an open mind and considering other options that can combine different interests and skills is a great starting point. Some degrees overlap or have specialization areas that might appeal to you if you look into it a bit.

    If you're not sure, you can always resort to the pros and cons system. Make a list of the positive and negative aspects of each major you're considering. This will help you compare and evaluate your options more objectively.

  6. Think long-term
    Choosing what to major in is not a short-term decision. Actually, it's quite the opposite. Therefore, another tip for knowing what to study is to map out your future and consider what your professional life will be like in the coming years. Think about your long-term goals and aspirations, and evaluate whether the degree you're considering will help you achieve them. Keep in mind that beyond your education, companies will value your soft skills: resilience, creativity, critical thinking, commitment, teamwork, etc.

College majors that will help you if you don't know what to study

College academic programs are reinventing themselves. They are growing at the same time as job profiles linked to big data, artificial intelligence, or "green jobs", among other sectors. However, this is not the only thing that’s changing. The search for balance between the professional and personal life, lifelong learning, inclusion, technology, and trying to align work with one's values are aspects that gain importance when looking for a job. In other words, choosing a college degree will be part of your life project. If you’re looking for employability, challenges for the future, and evolution, here’s a selection of some of the degrees that can help you conquer them.   

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Energy engineering or renewable energy engineering: These degrees focus on the study of different energy sources and their application to generate electricity in a sustainable way. Energy engineering graduates can work in the design, construction, and maintenance of renewable energy facilities such as wind farms, solar plants, and biomass projects.

Electrical engineering: These types of studies are more focused on the generation, transmission, and distribution of electrical energy. The development of smart grids and energy storage systems, as well as the implementation of energy efficiency technologies are some of the professional development areas for these engineers.

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Environmental sciences: It involves the study of natural systems and their interaction with humans. With respect to jobs for the future and energy transition, environmental scientists work on assessing and managing the environmental impacts of energy projects and implementing sustainable and resource conservation strategies.

Electronic engineering: This discipline is dedicated to designing and developing electronic devices and systems. The contribution of these professionals is focused on designing and controlling renewable energy systems, as well as developing energy saving and efficient energy management technologies.

Sustainable architecture: At the undergraduate or master's level, these studies focus on the design and construction of sustainable buildings and environments from an energy and environmental perspective. In fact, they enable the development of sustainable construction projects by incorporating energy-efficient solutions and the use of eco-friendly materials.

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Data science or data engineering and AI: These disciplines focus on using techniques and tools to process and analyze datasets with the aim of extracting applicable knowledge. Nowadays, large amounts of data are generated in various fields such as e-commerce, social media, health, banking, among others. The ability to manage information and design information dashboards or control panels that provide a summarized and easy-to-understand view of data and metrics in real time are fundamental skills of these professionals.

Computer engineering or information technology engineering: These degrees provide knowledge on software development, networking, and information technology and are some of the most popular majors. Do you want to design solutions for smart energy management? Perhaps, energy control systems in smart cities? Then you know what to study.

In any case, knowing what to study is a personal decision, so there's no single right answer. Take your time to explore and reflect, trust yourself when making the final decision, and if you feel you haven't got it right, keep on searching because it's never too late to reinvent yourself.

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