What If You Pick the 'Wrong' Major? (Spoiler: There's No Such Thing)

You're freaking out because you picked a major and now it's 2 a.m. and you're spiraling: “What if this is wrong? What if I should have picked something else? What if I'm ruining my entire life right now?"

Breathe. You're not.

The Truth About College Majors and Career Outcomes

 Most people don't end up in a career related to their major. I know that's shocking. But it's true. Someone majored in English and now runs a tech startup. Someone studied engineering and became a therapist. Someone got a degree in business and is now an artist.

Your major is important. But it's not your destiny. It's one chapter of your story, not the entire book.

Real Examples: Famous People Who Changed Career Paths

Steve Jobs, studied physics but dropped out. Took calligraphy classes for fun. He later combined that aesthetic sense with tech to create the beautiful fonts in Apple computers.

Margaret Thatcher, studied chemistry and worked as a research chemist. Became Prime Minister of the UK. Her chemistry background taught her how to think systematically, skills that translated to politics.

What Happens When You "Pick Wrong"

 Best case scenario? You realize it halfway through and switch. You lose a semester, maybe two. You're fine.

Worse case scenario? You finish the degree and discover it's not what you want. You feel frustrated. And then? You figure out what actually excites you and go do that. People do this all the time.

They're called "adults with pivot skills."

Worst case scenario that will definitely happen? Nothing. Literally nothing bad happens because you picked a major that didn't end up being "the one."

What Actually Matters When Choosing Your Major

Pick something you're genuinely curious about. Not what looks good. Not what pays the most. Not what your relatives want. What you  want to spend the next few years studying.

Know that you can change your mind. It's not locked in. You're allowed to switch majors. It's annoying and involves paperwork, but it's allowed.

Focus on building skills, not just collecting credentials. Whatever major you pick, use it to learn how to think, research, write, analyze, create. Those skills transfer everywhere.

Get involved in things outside your major. This is where you actually figure stuff out. Internships, clubs, projects that's where you discover what you actually like doing.

The Real Talk

 Your major is not a life sentence. It's a direction. And directions can change.

 Pick something that excites you right now.

And give yourself permission to be different in five years.