They say to pick a major based on your interests. There are fun majors in college like entertainment design, humanities, religious studies, theater arts and even Egyptology, which I had no idea existed before I did my research. Whenever you ask someone, “What should I study?” the most common answer you’ll get is “Whatever you want!” or “Whatever piques your interest.” In the long run, it isn’t that helpful, but it’s so your college experience can be more enjoyable.
They don’t tell you the reality of those majors. Beneficial careers today don’t go with a fun major. A CNBC article lists out ten majors that earn less than $50,000, and a lot of those would count as exciting majors, including clinical psychology, photography and foreign language studies. Speaking from experience, I originally wanted to study theater arts, but I was told the market was competitive. Even with the very rare chance I would make it in the industry, the pay wouldn’t be good. It’s a sad reality check, but I felt it was necessary to know.
The university does have events like the All Majors Fair that introduces freshmen and transfer students to the programs available and how one can get involved. On their Explore Majors page, the university tells us to “pursue your passion,” “try something new” and “build an experience,” along with listing a plethora of majors. They even include student testimonials with majors like philosophy and Spanish. However, they don’t always spell out the economic realities of less conventional majors as some might hope. It’s ironic that they lean toward personal fulfillment and flexibility instead of mentioning the job market.
A 2018 RAND study tells us that students pick a major based on their interests and peer pressure rather than exploring the benefits of them. I would expect that being at a university is meant to get us a job that pays a lot of money to do something fun, but when you’re studying something you’re interested in, graduate and land a job in that field, it’s unfortunate to see that it won’t do any good, and seem like a waste of time. Someone I knew was an East Asian Studies major, and during their undergraduate years they went on to work under the program and even represent it. Now she’s in a job that doesn’t align with what she was studying, and she isn’t making a lot of money.
Universities should clearly communicate the career prospects, earning potential and limitations associated with each major — not just promote personal growth or academic exploration. Students deserve upfront information about how their chosen field aligns with current labor market demands and long-term financial stability. Before committing to a major, they should evaluate its viability by researching employment trends, salary data and industry forecasts.
While you’re in college, it’s good to consider whether or not your major will work. Do research online or take advantage of the resources our campus has to offer like LifeLab, which offers drop-in hours Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m., or reach out to a peer mentor.
