How to choose a major.

Well, as someone who's changed majors three, no! FIVE times, I think I'm qualified to tackle this issue:

1. What do you love to do?

My spouse, for instance, started out as a microbiology major because he wanted to earn a comfortable living when he graduate. Then, in his junior year, he realized he loved history above all else, changed his major, and is now a history professor. He went with what he loved. I like to write, so I'm a (middle-aged) journalism major. Twenty years ago, I was a theater major, studying to be a professional stage manager. I did theater professionally for a few years, and decided to go back to school and do something else!

2. Don't live someone else's dream.

It's your time to be in college, it's your career in the making, don't let someone else dictate what you should major in. My mother, a teacher, really pushed me to be a teacher. I can't think of anything I'd hate more!

3. Ask the experts.

There are people at most colleges and universities whose job is to help you answer this question! Ask around in the advising office, career placement office, places like that (different colleges call them different things).

4. Remember, you don't have to decide right away.

Go ahead and go to college, get those pesky general education requirements out of the way and, who knows -- you might find something in your gen ed classes that you decide to major in! Most colleges don't insist that you declare a major right away, so take advantage of that. And remember, you can always change your mind.

5. Take a year off and live "out in the world."

If you can't come up with a compelling reason to go to college, don't go! Spend a year at some godawful low-paying job and see if that changes your perspective -- or gives you a college-bound perspective in the first place!

Above all, be honest with yourself. A potentially huge income in a field that you KNOW will bore you or make you miserable isn't worth it. I forget who said it, but here's the best advice I can give:

"Do what you love, and you will never 'work' a day in your life!"