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Choosing a major in college? Here are 8 questions to ask yourself

Choosing a major starts with knowing what matters to you. Use these 8 questions to explore your options and build a stronger college plan. Contact us today to get started.

Keyword(s): choosing a major

When choosing a major, begin with your goals and strengths. Then compare the courses and career paths tied to your top options.

Bachelor's degree holders earned a in 2024, according to recent federal earnings data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Your college major is the main subject you study beyond the core curriculum. A minor is a secondary focus that can support your degree. Students switch majors or wait to declare, so the choice does not need to feel permanent.

1. What Are My College and Career Goals?

Setting goals drives behavior, but if you don't know what you want, you can't make a plan to acquire it. To set goals, picture where you want to be in five to 10 years. Then work backward to identify the education that could help you get there.

A goal does not need to name one exact job. You can begin with the kind of problems you want to solve or the people you want to serve. This approach leaves room for careers you have not discovered yet.

Turn a broad goal into a next step, such as taking one related course or speaking with a professional. Goals need action.

2. What Are My Priorities When Choosing a Degree?

Many people have shifted from asking what kind of job they want to asking what kind of life they want. When choosing a degree, consider whether its common careers support the schedule and setting you prefer.

If you want a degree that can be useful in many fields, a business program may be worth exploring. Our guide to business degree career paths shows how one broad field can lead to varied roles.

Write down the conditions that matter most to you:

• Work schedule
• Work setting
• Time needed for school
• Room for future changes

Adult learners may place more weight on transfer credits and completion time. Rider's admissions advisors can review prior credits and explain how they may fit a program. Your priorities should shape your plan.

3. What Subjects and Skills Am I Good At?

Identify your talents, and you might be one step closer to selecting an appropriate major. Think back to earlier courses and note where you understood ideas quickly. Also notice which assignments made you want to keep learning.

Work experience may reveal useful strengths that grades never measured:

• Planning and organizing
• Project management
• Problem solving

Separate skill from interest. Being good at a subject does not mean you will enjoy using it every day. Being new to a subject also does not mean you lack the ability to improve.

Ask people who know your work to name patterns they see. Their examples may reveal strengths you overlook. Your strengths can reveal a new path.

4. What Are My Salary Expectations?

Earning a college degree generally increases earning potential over a career. However, pay can vary widely based on the major and the job a graduate enters.

Bachelor's degrees in STEM fields often connect with higher salaries. STEM includes:

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Mathematics

Compare starting pay with later career pay because they may tell different stories. Consider the cost of any graduate education that a career may require. Location can also affect both wages and living costs.

Do not compare salary alone. The U.S. Department of Education website lets students compare earnings and debt for .

5. What Classes Will I Need to Take?

A major may sound appealing even when its required classes do not. Read the full course list and separate required courses from electives. Note which subjects appear across several terms.

Check whether courses must follow a set order. One course may be required before the next course can begin. Missing a class offered once a year could delay graduation.

Look at how the classes are taught. Some majors rely on labs and fieldwork. Others involve long papers and group projects.

Review your free electives and ask how previous credits will apply. Elective space may leave room for a minor or another interest without adding extra terms. Read the actual course plan.

6. What Can Career Data Tell Me When Choosing a Major?

Career data reveal details that a job title cannot. Check the daily duties and work setting before connecting a degree to one career. Also confirm whether the role requires a license or additional education.

Our future career preparation guide offers examples of growing fields. It also connects those fields with Rider programs. Review several roles related to each major because broad paths leave room to adapt.

The from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York compares unemployment and underemployment across majors. They also report wages. Treat each measure as one clue rather than a final answer.

7. How Can I Test a Major Before I Commit?

Small tests can show whether you enjoy the work and not only the idea of a career. Use more than one kind of experience before making your decision.

Take an Introductory Course

Choose a course that meets a broad requirement when possible. Notice whether the work still interests you after the subject is no longer new. Pay attention to your willingness to practice difficult skills.

Try a Practical Experience

Try a campus project or job shadow experience. A real task can reveal whether you like the field's pace and common problems. A short experience can also expose parts of the work that course descriptions leave out.

Talk With People in the Field

Ask a professor what advanced courses are really like. Ask a professional what fills a normal workday and what new graduates often misunderstand. Test the work, not just the title.

8. How Can Rider Help Me Find My Major?

You do not have to select a major alone. To find your major, start with Rider's academic program finder tool, where you can compare programs based on your interests and career goals.

Talk with admissions counselors and faculty once you have a short list. Staff can explain course requirements and available student support.

СÓÅÊÓƵ also offers resources for continuing students who are returning to college or balancing school with other duties. Flexible study options can make it easier to plan classes around work and family needs. Our admissions advisors can also review transfer credits and help you map out an efficient path to graduation.

Through our Engaged Learning Program, we support personal and professional development by connecting classroom lessons with practical experience. Students can explore a field through an internship or a research project. These experiences can show whether a major matches the work they enjoy doing.

Rider's student support system also includes personal career launch support for seniors and recent graduates. Bronc Career Boost offers coaching and workshops. It also helps students build professional connections.