Everyone else knows what they want to major in.

This is even less true than you may think. Research indicates that nationally, about one third of students begin college undecided about a choice of major and that as many as 75% of students who enter college having declared a major will change their mind at least once. The process of exploring majors and deciding on the one that’s right for you can be one of the best experiences you can have in college. And even students who enter college having chosen a major are likely to change their mind at some point.  

All jobs and careers require specific majors.

Most careers don’t require you to have a specific major. Employers look for well-rounded individuals with good communication and thinking skills and who have relevant experience. The transferable skills you learn in college will help you learn the specifics of most jobs in most careers. Of course, there are some professional fields that do have qualifying or licensing requirements or require technical knowledge and a student may need to complete a specific major to work in that field. Examples include nursing, occupational therapy, accounting, and education. You should always determine whether the career field you plan to enter has any specific requirements as these can affect your choice. 

If I major in a liberal arts field like history or English I won’t get a job.

For students who don’t have an active interest in a professional field such as nursing or business, a liberal arts major is a very practical choice. Skills are transferable, which means that many majors can prepare you for the same career. Since liberal arts majors prepare students to think critically and independently, communicate well, and learn on their own, they prepare students for a wide range of career and job possibilities to numerous to list here. If you would be happy studying history or philosophy, don’t let worries about future employability stop you! You can review these majors and the careers they can lead to by following the link to “Majors and Careers.”

The major I choose now will determine what I do for the rest of my life.

This myth is related to another prevailing myth, that people will have just one career. Some reports suggest that a typical person will change careers several times or more before they stop working. What that means is that it is highly unlikely that what you major in will determine what you do for the rest of your life. You will continue to change and grow and new things will happen in your life and in the world that may very well take you to a new career. Your major may lead to your first career but not necessarily your only career.

Once I decide a major, I cannot change my mind and major in something else.

Many students change majors. This makes sense, since the courses you take in college may well expose you to new things and change your interests. In fact, liberal arts programs encourage exploration! And remember, between 50 and 75 % of students who enter college with a major in mind will change their mind before they graduate.  

I should choose a major based on what I’m good at.

It’s a good idea to take into consideration your skills and aptitudes when choosing a major but you should also consider other things. After all, you may be good at something and not love it. Also, what you’re good at can often be a matter of how hard you’re willing to work to at it. Skills and abilities will most likely change and increase over time so you may do yourself a serious disservice by choosing a major solely based on what you are good at right now.