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Does it matter what your college major is?

By Meg | May 20, 2007

This blog is not intended to just be about clothes and makeup, but rather about many different aspects of appearance. Often the very first impression you make when looking for a job is through the information on your résumé. There are many great sites out there that give advice on how to word a résumé and make it look professional, but much less attention seems to be paid to those things that are harder to change after the fact such as education and work experience.

I have often heard people say, “It doesn’t matter what you major in, so long as you have a college degree.” That may have been true at one time, and that may still be true for some jobs, but I have learned through my own experience and that of people close to me that it is not always the case. Many job listings request applicants to have a very specific background. Do they miss out on great applicants that know all they need to know but just don’t have the right wording on their diploma? Of course! However, they also weed out a lot of people that aren’t prepared for the job.

Another issue I have found is that many master’s degree programs do not accept people without a certain bachelor’s degree. Of course, you could go back and get that bachelor’s or take whatever prerequisite courses you need, but that’s extra time and money.

Of course, one of the most important considerations when choosing a bachelor’s is what you want to learn. College is not just about the piece of paper, but also about what you learn. What you learn will be different depending on whether you choose to major in chemical engineering or business.

And yes, some degrees carry more prestige and/or help the holder to make more money in the long run. Those are certainly considerations as well. However, I believe that it is more important to figure out what one is likely to want to do as a career before choosing a major and then researching what is necessary to make it in that field. Rather than limiting oneself to one field early on, I humbly believe that it is important to try out different fields through taking various electives, exploring hobbies, and even shadowing others through internships or volunteer work. Hopefully then you can find a field you can be passionate about before having a mid-life crisis.

I’m curious, have any of you had problems choosing college majors? If you are in college, or have graduated, what influenced your decision about what major to declare? Do you have any regrets about that choice?

If you’re still deciding, here’s a list of books you might find helpful:

  • The Everything College Major Test Book: 10 Tests to Help You Choose the Major That Is Right for You (Everything: School and Careers)
  • Guide to College Majors, 2007 Edition (College Admissions Guides)
  • How to Choose a College Major, revised and updated edition
  • Majoring in your future: your college major can have a big effect on your future career. But how do you find the major and the job path that is right for … An article from: Careers & Colleges
  • 90-Minute College Major Matcher: Choose Your Best Major for a Great Career (Help in a Hurry)

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