Major Myths
With 62 majors at Seattle Pacific University — and media reports connecting specific majors with future earning power — your student may find the process of choosing a major confusing or stressful. He or she may even put off the decision as long as possible. To help reduce anxiety and clear up misinformation, SPU’s Center for Career and Calling has the facts to dispel common myths and help your student choose a major with confidence. Here are three of them:
Myth: The sooner your student decides on a major, the better.
Fact: Many students begin college without a declared major, and the percent of those who change majors in college is quite high. With the exception of a few majors, students have two years before they must make a decision in order to stay on track to graduate in a timely manner.
Myth: The major field of study predicts the career of the graduate.
Fact: While students may seek and obtain employment that directly utilizes knowledge and skills from their major field of study, they may also enter career areas that relate to their majors either indirectly or not at all.
Additionally, three to five years after graduation, more than 50 percent of all college graduates are in a career that’s not directly related to their major. But the vast majority are still satisfied with the major they chose and feel that it helps them with the jobs. They are also as happy in their jobs as those who are in fields related to their major.
Myth: Looking at what is happening in the job market is the best way to figure out which major to choose.
Fact: Deciding on a major should be based primarily on your student's sense of what he or she enjoys learning and what type of academic activities brings out his or her best work. Selecting a major based on these criteria will most likely lead to success and personal satisfaction. Employers are more interested in the transferable skills students bring to their jobs — typically gained through internships, work experience, and the skills gained from obtaining a degree.
For more information about choosing a major, visit the Center for Career and Calling.