My Road to the Right Major
It’s October, and college application season is here. While picking a school is difficult, choosing a major can feel completely overwhelming. I get it, and I hope my story can help. This is my experience, from my senior year of high school to my junior year, and how I found my way.
Considering My Options
If there’s anyone who understands the stress of declaring a major, it’s me. In high school, I explored several career paths, including nursing, nutrition, and law. While these fields were intriguing, I soon realized I couldn't see myself being happy in any of those professions.
When I first applied to Rutgers Business School, I put down marketing as a placeholder because I liked the idea of social media marketing. For my first two years, I was convinced I needed to add finance as a second major because one major just didn’t seem like “enough.”
I spent too much time thinking, “I will be living up to the standards at Rutgers Business School if I double-major in finance like everybody else.” But once I stopped obsessing over what other students were doing, I could finally focus on my own journey.
Connecting the Dots
A quote that sometimes runs through my mind is one from Marsha Sinetar: “Do what you love and the money will follow.” I was one of those people caught up in worrying about financial stability, which is understandable. A job that doesn’t bring you joy, however, can be exhausting no matter the pay.
This led me to look at my own interests. I’ve always been passionate about the beauty and fashion industry and have loved using social media, especially Instagram and TikTok. Combining those interests helped me realize I want to go into social media marketing or product management for a beauty company.
It took a while, but I was finally able to align my future with my passions.
A Final Thought
My hope is that my story helps you feel reassured, especially if you don't know which major you want to declare yet. Declaring my major felt like a huge commitment, and I wanted to be sure it was right for me.
What I learned is that it's okay to change your major. You can also pick up a minor if you’re interested in another area but not ready to commit to a double major.
The most important thing is to be patient with yourself. Have fun with the process, and trust that it will all work out in the end.
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