"Every Student Should Know What They Want to Study in College."
Our response? That's bogus.
In fact, 50% of all students change their major at least once while they are in college. And according to a study from the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI), there is no correlation between a student starting college undeclared and their success in college. So don't be forced into choosing a major if you're not sure.
It's great if you have an idea of what you would like to study, but it isn't a requirement for your college search but don't buy into the notion that you need to know what you're going to study when applying to universities. For most majors, the first two years of college are really designed to help you figure out what degree you want to pursue (notable exceptions might be Engineering and Architecture). Typically, most of the classes you take in the first two years are considered General Education requirements and are intended to expose you to a wide range of topics including Composition, Cultural Studies, Humanities, Natural and Social Sciences or Languages so there is really not a need to decide what you want to major in until you've had a chance to dip your toe in the pool, so to speak.
What Should You Know?
A little bit about you.
We believe the more clarity you have about who you are, your values, strengths and aspirations, the better decisions you will make about your future. Sure it sounds "New Agey" - if that is even a term - but a little self-knowledge helps establish a critical framework which can lead you toward your chosen field of study, your career, and eventually your life's purpose. For example, if you're an active person who loves being outdoors then maybe becoming a Certified Public Accountant isn't the right path for you even though you really enjoy math and finance. Maybe your calling is to be an Economist working in under-privileged countries measuing and improving crop yields. You won't know that unless you have an idea of who you are and what you truly value. Read through this section to get some guidance on learning a little more about yourself.