‘What Should I Major In?’ Quiz

Going to college is exciting, yet choosing a major can feel stressful. The best major for you is a mix of interests, skills, topics you like, and what sets you up best to get the kind of role you’ll eventually want. If you’re wondering, “What should I go to college for?” here’s your ultimate quiz — that doesn’t require you to know what “STEM” or “sociology” means.

How Do You Know What Major Is Right for You?

Before you take the quiz, it’s important to clarify what we think makes a major the right fit. 

It’s Something You Enjoy

You might not love every class, but we think you should generally enjoy the topics you discuss and skills you learn in your major. 

Your major should be a subject you’re naturally drawn to and curious about. This will help you stay motivated when work becomes more challenging, and ensure you don’t dread going to class! It’s much more fun to learn about something you’re interested in. 

It’s Something You’re Good At

The whole point of college is to learn and build your skills, but it makes it that much easier when your major is something you’re good at.

That doesn’t mean you’re an expert in the subject, and you shouldn’t be! However, consider subjects you find you excel in or find more simple when others find them more challenging. For example, I always found that expressing thoughts and ideas in words came more easily to me than doing math equations or science experiments — so choosing to be an English major meant I could build on my writing skills.

It Aligns With Your Career Goals

You don’t need to know what you want to do after graduation before you pick your major, or even after you pick it! However, you should still have a sense of the type of roles you might want to pursue — especially if you think you might want to get a master’s or doctoral degree. 

For example, you don’t need to decide during your freshman year whether you want to be a data analyst or software engineer. But if you do know you want to go into a technical role, choosing a major that teaches you technical concepts and hard skills like programming will be more helpful when you’re trying to land a job post-graduation.

‘What Should I Major In?’ Quiz

What Should I Go to College For? Advice

You’ve taken the first step in answering the question, “What should I go to college for?” But what’s next after you’ve gotten your results? What other advice should you consider when choosing a school and major?

Block Out the Noise

It can be hard to figure out what you want to attend college for when you have so many outside perspectives telling you what to do. While it’s helpful to remember what trusted individuals want for you — like your parents or college advisors — at the end of the day, your opinion is most important. 

“Remember that this is your personal journey,” says Kimberely Tyler-Smith, VP of strategy and growth at Resume Worded. “Choose a major that aligns with your goals and aspirations, not just because it’s what others think is best for you. Ultimately, you are the one who will work in this field, and it’s crucial to find something that keeps you motivated and excited to get up and go to work every morning.”

Think Holistically

When answering “What should I go to college for?” remember, your college experience and resume is not just about your major, but also your GPA, extracurricular activities, internships, volunteer opportunities, and more. This means you want to choose a major where you can focus on doing your best — meaning you’re dedicated to attending class, studying, doing well on exams and projects, and having time to participate in activities that build your resume. Finding a major you’re interested in and want to do well in is better than a major you’re just doing to have it on your degree — and ending up with a low GPA and no motivation. 

>>MORE: Should I Put My GPA on My Resume?

“I have had direct experience with classics majors who were hired for investment banking based on college grades and SAT scores in Math,” says Mary Banks, director of admissions consulting at Quad Education. “Most students are concerned about how the major they select will determine their career options. English is often the best major for graduate study in law and even medicine. My best advice is to be sure you do your best in your program of study as grades and internship experience do count when first pursuing your job of choice or career path.”

Have a Plan — But Be Flexible

Maybe you have some bigger ideas about what you want to do with your life (and if you don’t, try our “What Should I Do With My Life?” quiz). Even if your dream career feels far away, you can start by working backward to figure out how the college courses you take, major, extracurriculars, and internships can help you get there. 

“The biggest mistake students make is not having a plan to guide their career exploration journeys,” Katherine Adams, senior vice president of Pipeline AZ. “The plan should align your interests, passions, and developing skills to industry workforce needs. Having a long-term vision of your career goals can help you find the best work-based experience and educational opportunities now.”

>>MORE: ‘What Is My Passion?’ Quiz: A No-Stress Way to Learn What to Do in Life

For example, you can write down what skills you need to build, how you’ll learn them, what opportunities you want to explore, and how you’ll land them. 

Be sure to write in pencil — or on a computer where you can delete and move things around. 

“You can adapt your career map over time based on where each role takes you,” Adams says.

Get the Inside Scoop

There’s no reason to pick a major without getting inside information about what it’s like — especially when you have so many resources at school to get the scoop. Ask upperclassmen about their experiences choosing their major and what they like and don’t like about theirs. Ask questions like:

• What’s your favorite class you’ve taken?
• What’s your typical courseload like?
• What do you find challenging about being an X major? What’s your favorite part?
• Why did you choose this major?

This can be especially helpful if you’re picking between similar majors or majors that might be more uncommon. For example, when I was in college, I was deciding between studying English or choosing a more uncommon major that combined literature with a few other subjects. I spoke to students in both majors to learn about what kinds of classes they took, what projects they worked on, and what kinds of books they read. 

You can also go directly to professors who teach in the department to learn more about their classes, their recommendations for majors, and even major-specific opportunities you might not know about. If you’re interested in a science major, there may be more lab or research opportunities in one major versus another, for instance.

Don’t Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself

Answering “What should I go to college for?” is essential, but it’s not the be-all, end-all, especially when it comes to your career. So many majors apply to various fields and teach you transferable skills you can bring to nearly any professional role.

“Remember that your major doesn’t solely define your career path,” says Eric Eng, college admission expert and founder and CEO of AdmissionSight. “Several successful individuals have majored in one field and built successful careers in entirely different domains. Focus on building a broad set of skills, and don’t limit yourself. Be open to exploring different opportunities; remember, the skills and experiences you gain along the way truly matter.”

Start exploring career options and getting experience for free with Forage job simulations. 

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