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The Most Popular College Major

Many students feel pressured to choose a major before entering college. But what if you’re not sure what you want to study? Here’s what you need to know about choosing a major.

Choosing a College

When it comes to choosing a college, it’s important to know yourself. What are your strengths? What are your interests? What do you want to do with your life?

These are big questions, and they’re not always easy to answer. That’s why many students enter college as “undecided” majors. In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 20% of first-time, full-time college students are undecided about their major.

While there’s no one “right” major, some majors are more popular than others. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the most popular majors in 2015-16 were:

  1. Business (19.2% of degrees conferred)
  2. Health professions and related programs (12.5%)
  3. Social sciences and history (8.1%)
  4. Psychology (6.1%)
  5. Biological and biomedical sciences (5.7%)

What to Consider When Choosing a Major

When choosing a major, it’s important to consider:

Don’t Stress Too Much

Remember that choosing a major is a big decision, but it’s not the end of the world if you change your mind. Many students change their majors during college, and that’s perfectly normal.

The most important thing is to choose a major that you’re passionate about and that will help you achieve your goals. Don’t let anyone pressure you into choosing a major that doesn’t feel right for you.

Resources for Choosing a Major

If you’re still unsure about what major to choose, there are many resources available to help you:

Need help choosing a major? Check out our Majors Matcher tool!

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