Should I follow my passion or a paycheck? This is the question that plagues the mind of all undergraduates, from the barely out of high school freshman to the weathered senior.
Traditionally, a degree guaranteed a job upon graduation. But now college students face the possibility of leaving college only to be meet with unemployment or underemployment. It’s no surprise that there is mounting pressure to choose the right major.
“It’s not a simple question and that’s why so many people come in undecided. It’s like one of the biggest questions of your life. I chose my major first of all because I wanted to do something that was influential to society, and to be able to leave something for everyone around me,” said Jordan Benton, a sophomore double major in chemistry and biology.
Benton plans to use his degree to get into medical school and open up a nonprofit clinic that would offer multiple services to those living with drug addiction and homelessness. His decision was rooted in practicality and his proficiency in his field of study.
“I really think there is a combination of students. One side is all about money, one side is about doing what they like; and then there are the people who are in-between,” said Anna Lee, a senior exercise science major at Georgia State.
Lee falls in the middle of the spectrum. Fueled by her personal interest she chose a major that would guarantee happiness decent pay and possibilities for advancement after graduation.
Whether you’ve chosen a major like Anna following your interest, or Jordan following job security or are undecided it’s always helpful to know what your options are so that can weigh them accurately.
That is the thought behind Georgia State undergraduate major fair according to Michelle Griffin, the events coordinator and senior academic advisor at Georgia State.
“The goal is to connect undergraduate students with majors and minors that they previously may not have known about,” Griffin explained. “Undecided majors sometimes aren’t aware of how many things that we offer here so it’s a good opportunity to display everybody in the same location.”
The undergraduate major fair will be held February 10 in the Student Center Ballroom. The event expects representatives from every academic department as well offices and organizations that are beneficial to undergraduate success: the offices of study abroad, career services and supplemental information, to name a few.
“I hope they (students) will walk away with an idea as to what they are interested in that they didn’t know before. We have so many services on campus that to take advantage of I’m hoping that major fair will also expose them to those services that get looked over by freshman who are overwhelmed by the larger picture.”
Know your options
When choosing a major it’s important to understand the different areas and avenues your major can be applied. Majors are not meant to restrict you to a certain career.
“A student may want to be a brain surgeon, but that’s a tough road takes a lot of school and time,” Griffin said. “Maybe they can be an attending physician or something else in the medical field more suited toward their academic prowess, and it might actually bring them a lot more joy.”
A career after college is a lot more complicated than any one degree can prepare a student for, so it’s important to remember that degrees are the starting point and not the finish line.
There is room for error
Confronted with possible unemployment and mounting debt, many students may be a little more careful about changing majors. While these are both considerable factors, students should be open to exploring their options.
“I think a lot of students find that once they’re here for a year or so they say, “oh, maybe this isn’t what I want to do,” and that’s why we have major fair so we can show them what else is available,” Griffin said.
Changing you major does not mean you’re a failure or lazy. College is one of the only times that you can change your life’s course with little to no repercussions.
Passion leads to pay
“I think a common mistake students make is choosing a major based solely on what they are going to earn down the road,” Griffin said. “Students have to find what’s right for them and not gravitate toward what’s the most popular but rather what is going to bring them happiness in the future.”
Job security is only one part of the equation for a successful post-collegiate career.
“Most of us are in college to get a degree and do something that we love, and if you get money that’s a plus,” Lee said.
Choosing a major is a delicate balance that starts with discovering your passion. When you discover what that is and apply it to your major, success in academics and your career will follow.
