By Hannah Watson

As a student, one of the most important decisions you can make is choosing the right major for you. Doing so will determine your future in school, as well as that of your career. Get some help making this decision with the help of these tips and tools that can help you make the right choice. Tips Follow these tips to make a smart decision.

1. Visit a career counselor: See your college’s career center to get access to books and self assessment tools that can help you choose a major.
2. Look at current job postings: Check out job postings in the career you want to find out what kind of education they are looking for.
3. Test drive a major: Sit in on a few classes to see if you like studying the subject.
4. Don’t panic: This is a major decision, but it’s not irreversible.
5. Give the decision real thought: Don’t choose a major just to pick something-be sure you’re making the right choice.
6. Start with an unrestricted list: Get started by considering lots of different majors, then drilling down to the best one for you.
7. Choose your career: Think about what career you’d like to see yourself in, and then determine which major you’ll need to be in to achieve that goal.
8. Work in your career field: Take on a part time job or internship in the industry you might be in to assess its strengths and weaknesses.
9. Start out undeclared: Take introductory courses and fill general education requirements until you know what you want to do.
10. Imagine who you’d like to be in 10 years: See yourself in the future, and work toward what can give you that reality.
11. Follow a path you’ve done well on: Choose a major that will allow you to take classes you’ve proven you can do well in.
12. Check out the requirements: Find out what the requirements are to graduate with the degree you’d like, and if you’re willing to fulfill them.
13. Do a gut check: Think about whether or not the career/major really matches who you are.
14. Find out what it takes to be successful: Take a look at what you’ll need to do to be successful in your chosen field and major.
15. Research earnings: Take a look at the kind of salary you can earn with different majors.
16. Consider a double major: If you just can’t decide between two majors, go for both and enhance your resume.
17. Look at growth: Find out if the field you’re interested in will be growing in the future.
18. Go to community college: Until you know what advanced courses you’d like to pursue, save time and money by completing core education at a community college that will transfer credits.
19. Take your time: Most schools will give you one to two years to choose your major, so don’t rush into things.
20. Talk to other students: Get advice from classmates and upperclassmen to learn about majors.
21. Talk to departments: Get in contact with faculty members or student leaders who can help you learn about different departments.
22. Take a look at the course catalog: Look through your schools course catalog to learn about the majors available at your college.
23. Look at the required courses: Find out what you’ll be required to take, and think about whether you’re interested in them, or might dread taking them.
24. Look into faculty: Find ratings and visit with a potential major’s faculty to see what it might be like to become a part of the department.
25. Get an internship: Work an internship to explore a field without making a major commitment.
26. Read a book: Go to your library to find a book that offers a guide to college majors.
27. Ask your family and friends: Ask the people who know you well what they think you’d do well in.
28. Check out alumni: Look at alumni from your school and see what they’re doing now, and what major got them there.
29. Think about your future education: If you’re pursuing a master’s or doctorate degree, consider a major that will help you prepare for that level of education.
30. Know that it’s OK to change your mind: 44% of college students change their major before graduation-so don’t be afraid to make a switch if you want to.
31. Go to the career center: Make a visit to your school’s career center to get good resources for assessment, internships, and more.
32. Don’t give in to pressure: Don’t let your parents or peers pressure you into a major that’s not right for you.
33. Talk to an advisor: College advisors can help you find a career and information about college majors.
34. Keep your options open: Attend a college that has lots of great programs, so you won’t have to transfer if you change your mind later.

Questions to Ask Ask yourself these questions when you’re ready to consider your potential major.

35. What type of career can you see yourself in?: Ask yourself about the career you’d ultimately like to be in when considering your major.
36. Which high school subjects do I enjoy?: Think about what you like to study now-because you’ll be doing a lot of that in college.
37. What type of work do you enjoy?: Choose your major based on what you enjoy doing.
38. Is love or money your goal?: If you want to make money, research which majors produce the biggest salaries, or follow majors that can get you into the career you’d love.
39. What are your interests?: Think about your interests when determining what major you’d like to pursue.
40. What would you like to achieve?: When choosing your major, think in terms of achievements.
41. What inspires you?: Think about what makes you happy.
42. What do you value in a career?: List what’s important to you in your future career.
43. Would you like to travel?: Choose a major that can give you the opportunity to see the world if you like.
44. What kind of work settings are good for you?: Choose a career that can give you the working environment you’re looking for.
45. What do career assessments indicate?: Consider what career assessments say you should pursue.
46. Do you want to help people?: If you like to help people, you may want to choose a service-oriented major.
47. What kind of skills do you have?: Pursue a major that will allow you to use and develop your skills.
48. Do you enjoy working with children?: Think about a major that can give you a career that involved children.
49. Do you want to be a leader?: Choose a major that will allow you to lead or follow, whichever works best for you.
50. Do you have hobbies you’d like to pursue as a career?: If you have a hobby that you can turn into a career, consider following a major that can help you develop it.
51. What types of assignments interest me?: Consider what you like to do in school, whether that means essays, problems, or hands on activities.
52. Do you like to work with other people?: Choose a major that will allow you to be introverted or extroverted.
53. What do you like a dislike from past work experience?: Reflect on your past work experience in your consideration of your major and future career.
54. Would you like to work outdoors?: Think about whether you’d like a career that puts you outside or not.
55. What’s in demand?: Consider careers in the areas where you’d like to live after graduation.
56. What kind of organization do I want to work for?: Are you interested in a large company, government agency, small business, or entrepreneurship?
57. What is difficult for others but comes easily for me?: Discover your strengths with this question.
58. Do you want to live in a city or rural area?: Think about which majors and careers will allow you to live where you’d like.
59. How much time do I want to spend away from home?: If you’re interested in lots of business travel, international business may be for you.
60. Would you like to work with animals?: Consider whether your major will allow you to work with animals if you’d like.
61. Do you like memorization?: Majors like history and political science will reward your ability to recall events and historic bits.
62. Do you have what it takes?: Seriously think about whether or not you have what it takes to do well in your major.
63. Do you enjoy hands-on work?: Think about whether or not you like to do hands-on work.
64. Do you want to study online?: Some majors are more conducive to studying online than others.

Tools Make use of these assessments and other tools to get help choosing your major.

65. How Well Do You Know Yourself?: Using this test, you can discover how much you know about yourself before making major decisions.
66. The College Major Interest Test: Take this quick test to find out what majors are best for you.
67. Salary.com Salary Wizard: Enter job titles associated with your major to find out what you can expect to earn upon graduation.
68. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Research careers using this government resource.
69. Career Test: Take this test to get matched with 40 different careers.
70. What Can I Do With a Major In…?: This tool will show you what careers you can do with a variety of different majors.
71. Salary Search: Check out salaries in different jobs and areas with this tool.
72. CareerPlanner: Find online career testing from this website.
73. Majors Search: This tool from the Princeton Review will allow you to learn more about nearly any major.
74. Quiz: The Brain Test: Take this quiz to see if you think with the left or right side of your brain, and figure out what major or career works best for you.
75. True Colors Career Quiz: With this quiz, you’ll learn about your color personality, strengths, and weaknesses.
76. Choosing a College Major Worksheet: Follow the steps in this worksheet to find your ideal major.
77. Keirsey Temperament Sorter: Use this questionnaire to learn what type you are, and what an appropriate career choice might be for you.
78. Majors & Careers Central: Visit this resource from The College Board to see profiles for majors and careers.
79. JobStar Salary Guide: Here you’ll find more than 300 free online salary surveys.
80. MAPP: MAPP offers a way for you to learn about your degree and career potential.
81. Mymajors: This tool will take a look at your grades and preferences, then matches you with a list of majors that might work for you.
82. List of College Majors: Read this list to find out what’s available to you as a student in the United States.
83. Human Resources Department: Take this short test to evaluate your working style and emotional health.
84. JOBehaviors: Check out this site to find job-specific assessments to identify a job that’s perfect for you.
85. Cost of Living Wizard: Look at living cost indexes and salary differentials with this tool.
86. College Major Assessment Quiz: Consider your personality traits for your college major with this quiz.
87. Test of Analytical Skills: You can find out your major and career interests by testing your analytical skills with this tool.
88. JobDiagnosis: Use this career assessment to find out about your interests, skills, abilities, and competencies.
89. Discover Your Career Skills: With this test, you can look at your abilities that can help you in your career.
90. Career Key: This test offers a scientifically valid career assessment.
91. Work Preference InventoryWhich College Major Should You Be?: Get a look into your work style using this assessment.
92. Which College Major Should You Be?: This fun quiz will offer a look into what major is best for you.
93. Careers-What’s Your Interest?: Check out this tool to discover jobs related to your interests.
94. Testing Room: Take a career interest profiler, learn about your personality, and more using these tools.
95. Career Snapshots: Get the real story on thousands of jobs here.
96. GigZig: GigZig will show you real career paths you may be able to follow.
97. Which Career Will Suit Your Personality?: This quiz will help you find the right career for your personality.
98. Work Interest Quiz: Using this quiz, you’ll find out which work types match your personality.
99. O*Net: O*Net offers tools that can help you learn about your abilities, work styles, interests, and more.
100. Convert Your Hobbies to Lucrative Careers: With this guide, you’ll learn about translating your hobbies into a career.