Choosing a Degree - Take a BIG Bite
- Filed under: College Advice
- Date: Jun 26,2008
You have finally decided on a major! Congratulations! And now I am going to downgrade your decision by telling you not to get too comfortable with your decision. Ask a few of your friends who have gone to college, chances are they have changed their major just a few times, and there is a good chance you will too.
The reason why many students change their major is because they believe choosing a major is the last step. It is not.
The Next Step – Take a BIG Bite
Imagine you are at a restaurant. You are given a menu, and just like looking at possible majors, you read short descriptions of the choices, maybe see a few pictures, ask the waiter what he would suggest, and then you make a decision.
When your food comes to you, it looks delicious and it confirms that you had made a good decision. But after you take that first big bite, you hold your breath as you swallow the horribly seasoned food. Obviously your decision was not the right one, even though it was a well thought out decision.
Many students will “Order” their degree, but they never seem to take a real bite out of it. Yes they go to class, read half of the text material, and do well on the tests. But those achievements are more like looking at your food, not eating it.
To really test your degree decision you really need to take a bite.
Ways to Eat your Degree
Research – Research is a great way to get involved in your major. Help your favorite professor do research. Doing research with a professor allows you to learn from the best, and you can possibly begin your own research on a topic that branches from the professor’s topic.
Follow the Top Gurus – Figure out who is top in your field. Follow them. Read their blogs, read their books, watch YouTube videos of their presentations. Pay attention to the conferences they attend. Get their background info. Find out what they studied in college. Did they go to college? Don’t become obsessive, but following the paths of successful people is an excellent way to start out.
Subscribe – Get used to using Google Reader, and subscribe to news pertaining to your topic of interest. Know the news of your topic allows you to better build a relationship with your professors.
You are What You Eat – Try acting like what you want to become. If you are studying English writing, become a writer. Just going to class won’t do it. Act like an expert, be confident. Instead of having a professor to student conversation, make it a peer to peer conversation.
Now don’t go acting like an arrogant fool, by pretending to know things that you do not. But build your confidence. You may know more than what you think.
Did you like your meal?
Do you ever go to a restaurant and know exactly what you want, and you always get that meal? But after having the same meal for the fiftieth time, you decide to finally try a different entrée. What happens? You realize that this new entrée is just as good as the other one, and you can’t believe you have gone so long without ordering it.
The same scenario can happen with a degree choice. Just because you like one degree, doesn’t mean you won’t like another. This is why elective courses are very important. Experiment with different courses and read books on various topics.
It Can be Frustrating
Deciding on a major can become very frustrating, especially after you have changed your major two or three times. But you should not be intimidated. Think positively! Every time you realize you are heading down the wrong path, you discover something about yourself, and knowing yourself is the most important key to happiness and success.
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