There are questions every high school student should be asking when considering a college education: Is it worth it? Can I afford it? How do I decide what to study? Geneva College leaders provide answers to some of these top questions and more in this series. Take a closer look with us.

How do I decide what to study?

The question “What do I want to study?” is often equated with “What do I want to do with my (whole) life?” While a choice in major can carry weight throughout a lifetime, it is not the same as deciding what to do with your whole life. It is more so a conversation about what you want to do next, i.e., during and after college.

Many schools start this conversation in middle school. By the time junior year begins, students have often chosen their course of study, either out of interest or pressure. Those who have not decided may find themselves feeling behind, even if they are still a year removed from beginning college.

If you don’t know what you want to study, then you need more information to help you decide. Thinking about it harder or longer may not help. One easy way to do this is through short conversations with people who you find interesting. You can do this in person, on the phone, a video call, etc. Ask the person how they landed in their current role, what types of strengths help them perform well, and what they wish they would have known sooner that could have set them up better.

Short conversations like this can begin to give you additional information you need to decide, whether it’s choosing a specific career field or ruling one out. Both are helpful in moving you forward.