How To Help Your Child Choose A College Major

Your child has worked hard to get into the university of their choosing. They have studied hard, performed well on the SAT’s, and put long hours into extracurricular activities. Now that they have been accepted into a college of their choosing, it’s time to celebrate! But it’s also time to think about how to make the most of what they have worked so hard for. Your child’s college major will have a major influence on the career they have throughout their adult life. While college is a great time to explore one’s interests, it’s also important to choose a major that will lead to a fulfilling and successful career. But at such a young age, how is a new adult supposed to choose what they want to do for the rest of their life? Let’s talk about how a parent can guide their child into a major that will lead them to personal and professional success.

A college major accomplishes a number of goals. One, it allows a student to explore an area of study. But it also prepares a student for a career path and heavily influences the type of job they will be eligible for in adulthood. When choosing a major, a student should consider:

• The type of coursework they will enjoy studying
• The type of career they wish to pursue following graduation
• The financial expectations they can expect to earn with certain degrees
• How shifts in a professional field will change their employment opportunities
• If they enjoy the daily aspects of a job, versus the theoretical study of a subject

I will discuss each of these points in detail below.

Incoming students should consider the type of courses they wish to study

Individual college majors will come with their own list of required courses. The major your child chooses will determine the type of classes that they will take. For example, an English major will be required to take a number of core courses involving literature, writing and composition, and literary theory. Elective courses might include creative writing courses, technical writing courses, and classes in journalism. On the other side of the spectrum, an engineering student would have to take required courses in calculus, physics, and organic chemistry. A business major will spend the majority of their coursework studying economics, accounting, finance, management, communications, and marketing. It is important that your child choose a major in which they have an interest in the subject that they will be studying, and in which they can excel at. If your child struggles with math and science, choosing a STEM major may be setting them up for failure. Likewise, if your child does not enjoy working in groups, a marketing major may not be a good fit.

After four years of high school, your child probably has a good grasp on what subjects come easier to them compared to others. While they may have good grades across the board, there is a difference between being able to excel at a subject through hard work and having a natural affinity for certain material. If your child is unsure of what course of study they will thrive in, then an aptitude test may be a wise investment. I discussed in detail how the Highland Aptitude Battery can help students discover their natural inclinations and guide young adults into a major that they are best suited for. Your child’s four years of college will be much more productive, and will set them up for success if they choose a major that suits their natural abilities.

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Young adults should consider their expectations for the career they wish to pursue

Once your child has determined what type of study they are best suited for– whether that be business, science, the arts, English, etc.– then they must determine what their expectations are for their future career. What are their salary expectations? Do they want to pursue an advanced degree following undergraduate studies, or do they want to get a job straight out of college? Do they want a job in a specific location, or are they willing to move? Do they want a career that is a ‘normal’ nine-to-five, or are they willing to work longer hours? Do they seek a job that is ‘in person’ or a ‘work from home’ position? These are all questions that a parent can help their child consider. Certain careers, such as becoming a doctor, a lawyer, or a professor, require advanced degrees and further schooling. Students who aspire to work for large companies may need to understand that relocation could be a requirement of the job. While not all majors lead directly to a specific career path, it is important to help your child envision what they might professionally do with their degree in a concrete way. This can help prevent them from graduating ‘without a plan,’ further down the line.

Students should research the financial compensation that is typical for their major

It is very hard for an eighteen-year-old child to have a realistic understanding about real world salaries. Many students fall into the trap of believing that if they go to college and take on debt in exchange for a quality education, then they will be rewarded with a high paying job. But that isn’t necessarily true, even if they attend an excellent university. And the reason is, some professions have a limit on what the compensation will be. Even if the job in question requires a college education. Even when the job in question is important and needs people who are passionate about the work. Some examples of these jobs might include the education field, special education, social services, early childhood education, and some health services. This is not to say that these areas of study are not important, worthwhile pursuits. There are a lot of factors that go into a career decision – money is not the only factor. But it is important that your child understand the reality of what they can expect to be paid in any given field, and what the ceiling for that financial compensation might be. While it is certainly not advisable for a student to choose a major simply because they think it will make them a lot of money, it is also important for a student to have a reasonable expectation for the type of lifestyle any given major can support.

Students should research the changing markets and the future of their chosen career path

We live in a world that changes rapidly. The advice your parents gave you as a young adult likely doesn’t apply to the world your child is entering today. In the 1970’s, anyone who earned an undergraduate degree was basically guaranteed a stable job and a decent salary. The same isn’t true today, and the jobs that were once seen as financially desirable aren’t necessarily the guarantees they once were.

For example, it was once believed that becoming a doctor or lawyer was the fastest path to financial wealth. While there are certainly still wealthy doctors and lawyers, both professions have changed rapidly. In the 1990’s, the legal profession was booming due to changes in civil law, a push to crack down on crime, and an increase in family law cases. Today, safety features in cars have reduced auto accidents, the legalization of marijuana has decreased criminal cases, and improvements in technology makes it easier to file cases, do legal research, and communicate with clients. This has led to a reduction in paralegals, and also means an attorney can handle more cases, at a time when there is a reduction in legal work. Likewise with doctors. The state of healthcare has changed rapidly. Fewer people have a “family doctor” that they maintain a long-term relationship with. Doctors are under pressure to bill more hours and often work under some type of health care network that dictates their pay. At the same time, there is a rise in telehealth, and medical school tuition remains extremely high.

My point is that students should not chase trends because they have a vague idea that a specific profession is a straight path to a certain future. Ten years ago, coding was seen as a new skill that could guarantee financial success. Today, because of AI and other technological advancements, low-level and mid-level coders do not have the same guaranteed job security they did before. Professions can change, and it is important for students to develop a strong base of skills and knowledge in whatever area they choose, so they are prepared to adjust to changing markets.

Encourage students to apply to internships and speak to current professionals in their field of interest

There is no better way to decide if a profession is the right fit than through real world experience. It is not uncommon for students to have an idea in their head of what a certain job is like, only to find out the reality is very different. That is why, before they settle on a certain major, they should make an effort to talk to people in the field and attempt to get a glimpse of what daily life is like in a certain profession. Young students may be able to apply for an office or filing job, get an internship, volunteer time, or can seek out a mentorship from a professional. Their guidance counselor or academic advisor may be able to help put them in touch with professionals who are in the field they are interested in pursuing, or there may be young professional organizations they can join as a student. Either way, it is helpful if students put time and effort into learning about a job before they settle on a major.

Parents should avoid pressuring children into majors that they are ill suited for

Maybe one of the best things a parent can do for their child is to give them enough space to make their own decisions. Medical and law schools are filled with students who are only pursuing a certain degree due to the wishes of their parents. Often these are high achieving students who can get through the material, but don’t necessarily love the subject. These students often graduate these programs, only to find that they don’t actually want to do the job they have trained so hard for. In this case, you are not doing your child any favors by pushing them into a competitive field that they don’t’ have a knack for. Parents often have a dream for their children; maybe they envision them having more monetary success then they did, or perhaps they would love to see their child follow in their own career footsteps. Either way, it is important to remember that your child is a separate person, and their natural aptitudes may not align with the secret (or not so secret) goals you would like to impose on them. Your child may need guidance and advice when it comes to picking a major, but at the end of the day, they are the one who will have to complete the course work and ultimately work in this career field. It is important that the major they choose is a course of study that they truly want to pursue.

And there you have it. Between thoughtful research, some hands-on experience, and a deep dive into your child’s natural aptitudes, they should be able to choose a college major that is both personally fulfilling, and can lead to a fruitful career path. If this seems overwhelming, it doesn’t have to.

Contact a college planning consultant for help with choosing a major

As a college prep consultant, I offer career coaching and aptitude testing to my clients. If your child is overwhelmed and unsure of how to begin their college career on the right foot, I’m here to help. I offer comprehensive packages which include aptitude testing so that your child is best set up to choose the career path which fits them. Contact me today to learn about my services.

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