Having 'major' problems?

This academic calendar year, students at Arizona State University have 362 majors to choose from. Yes — three hundred and sixty two. With an extensive list of options and majors offered both as a bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degree, how do students know which major best suits them?

As an undergraduate, I sought advice from advisors and professors hoping someone had the golden degree ticket bearing my name on it. There are a few things I learned while earning my degree and many, many things after.

Below are three pieces of advice I wish I would have known before declaring a major:

1. Don’t be quick to pick or dismiss a major

So you took a physics course in classical mechanics and were fascinated with the movement of astronomical objects. Great! Should you now abandon all future endeavors unrelated to the field? Probably not.

I’ve come to hear quantum field theory is not for the faint of heart. Have you ever felt betrayed by political theorists such as Immanuel Kant or John Rawls because no matter how many times you’ve read the paragraph, it simply makes no sense? Does this mean the mighty realm of political science is not for you? Again, probably not.

One class is not representative of the entire discipline. I would caution from picking or dismissing a major based on a brief three to four-month experience. A course you may have genuinely enjoyed can easily be credited to an outstanding lecturer or lively class discussion. A course leaving you feeling unchallenged or confused may be for reasons other than the material.

Carefully analyze your time in the course to better understand what made you feel detached or uninterested. Was it the professor? Was it the course requirements? Really make sure it isn’t the course material that is turning you away from the subject. My advice? Take at least two electives in a major before making that step closer to declaring it 'yours.'

2. Your major is not your job title

In an economy where receiving an undergraduate degree at a public institution will cost an estimated $14,300 per academic calendar year, some wonder whether the investment is worthwhile. Students are being advised to reconsider spending thousands of dollars on a degree that does not guarantee immediate or gradual financial stability.

Although tuition currently stands at a less than ideal price, it is important to remember your major is not your job title. Students graduating with degrees in the liberal arts are not subject to careers solely in teaching. A liberal education arms a student with critical thinking skills, writing capacities and the ability to communicate ideas clearly that would be well suited for almost any kind of job. One the same note, students graduating with a degree in STEM are not forced into a life behind a research facility. Rather, students have the opportunity to enter fields in which an understanding of technology is vital.

Choose what you would like to major in, not what you’d like your job title to be. If that were so, my journey to becoming president of a university would be much, much simpler.

It is also worthy to note select professional schools, such as law, medicine, education and journalism do not require an undergraduate degree in any particular field.

3. Remember to choose a major, not settle for one

Perhaps one of the most important things to remember is that you are not settling for a major. You do not hand over your entire undergraduate career and education to the likes of a major you just happen to come across in the undergraduate catalog. You actively decide on and pursue a major. You can’t imagine a semester without a design class? Go for it. Major in architecture. I commend you.

As the semesters carry on, membership to certain clubs, organizations, residence halls, teams or local drinking establishments may provide you with another characteristic to cling tight to, but ultimately, the “major” decision is yours.

Vanessa Miller is currently a graduate student at Teachers College, Columbia University pursuing a master’s degree in philosophy and education. She received her undergraduate degree in philosophy at the University of Florida and spends too much time wondering whether Socrates actually knew nothing.

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