But not everyone finds their calling as a kid.
In this blog, we'll detail how to pick a major in college so you can pursue a career and build a fulfilling life.
Can You Attend College Without a Major — And Why Do You Need One?
Doctors diagnosed Justin at age 10 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a fast-growing but common form of childhood cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
Most kids survive, but it still terrified him and his family.
"I went from playing soccer and spending time with friends to a whirlwind of tests, treatments, and hospital stays," Justin remembers. "I spent nearly two and a half years missing out on many formative parts of childhood."
Justin's nurses helped him through that vulnerable period, which made it easy to decide what he wanted to study.
"The care from my nurses went far beyond tending to my physical needs," he recalls. "They brought moments of joy during a time when it was hard to be positive, and I want to provide that same compassion to others."
However, not everyone knows what they want their major — and career path — to be. An estimated 20 to 50 percent of students enter college undecided, and that's OK.
You often knock out your general education and elective courses first, which allows you to explore your interests before making that choice at the end of sophomore year.
Picking the best major for you paves the way for your success. It allows you to earn a degree and prepare for a career in your preferred industry. A 2025 study from Harvard Business School found fewer than 1 in 700 candidates get hired without a post-secondary education.
Popular College Majors
Thousands of college majors exist. The most common fields of study for recent graduates, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, include:
| Major | Example Careers |
|---|---|
| Business | Accountant, HR specialist, financial analyst |
| Healthcare | Registered nurse, public health analyst, physician |
| Social sciences and history | Policy analyst, social worker, historian |
| Biological sciences | Lab researcher, pharmaceutical scientist |
| Psychology | Clinical psychologist, school counselor |
| Engineering | Civil engineer, mechanical engineer, chemical engineer |
How to Pick a College Major
The following steps can narrow the myriad of options to one that best matches you:
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Think about your skills and strengths
To ensure your passions translate into the right major, reflect on what you enjoy and why. Many interests overlap multiple fields.
A short list outlining a few areas that fuel your excitement offers a starting point. -
Research college majors and occupations
Do some (fun!) homework. Explore the fields of study connected to your skills and the opportunities available.
For example, those who like to write and solve problems could consider a major in journalism, public relations, or marketing.
When thinking about career paths, look into the job demand and earning potential too.
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Understand what you value
Do you mind working on weekends? Or desire a job that allows you to be home before dinner every night?
As for college, do you envision attending the public university close to home, or going to the liberal arts college a 15-hour drive away that boasts a 10:1 student- to-faculty ratio?
How do these wants align with your prospective major and career?
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Seek guidance from others
Like it or not, you don't know it all.
Connect with academic advisers, family, and teachers. They can weigh pros and cons and point you to opportunities based on their wealth of knowledge.
Other Tools to Help You Distinguish Between College Majors
Some students learn better by doing. Some experiential ways to pick a field of study include:
- Career quizzes: Match your skills and strengths to a potential major using a free online test. Here's a 24-question assessment from the Princeton Review.
- Online courses: Take a course in your preferred field of study. Justin used Portage Learning to jumpstart his career in healthcare. The accredited institution offers 32 online college courses, which help students affordably explore a variety of fields. Credits earned transfer to more than 2,800 institutions.
- Job shadowing: Gain firsthand insight and connections by volunteering or observing professionals in your area of interest.
The Final Thought: Setting the Foundation for What's Next
After years of being told what classes to take, college marks the first time you can make those choices for yourself.
Justin's story highlights how picking a field of study comes naturally for some. He'll graduate with a Master of Science in Nursing from Emory University in December 2026, achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a nurse practitioner.
For others, it may be a lengthy process, but career exploration and self-discovery are never a waste of time.
After all, you're making a major decision. In more ways than one.
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