Even before you have figured out your purpose for going to college, you might be required to select a program of study also referred to as a major, an area of study like psychology, engineering, education, or nursing. Selecting a major is one step in academic planning. In every major, students take a variety of courses; some are directly related to the area of study, whereas others are general education and elective courses. For example, all students should take college-level math and English courses as part of general education, but they can choose electives depending on their interests.

Many students change majors as they better understand their strengths and weaknesses, learn more about career options, and become interested in different areas of study. Some colleges and universities allow you to be undecided for a while or to select liberal arts as your major until you make a decision about what to study.

Although it’s OK to be undecided, planning your major and your college curriculum as soon as possible saves valuable time and resources. Even if you’re on financial aid, you’re not going to have an unlimited amount of cash. If you randomly take courses without a specific goal in mind, your tuition funds could dry up before your plan takes shape. Therefore, it’s essential to have a strategy for your program of study. Start by building a solid base of general courses that could qualify you for a few different majors, but leave time in your schedule to explore other subjects that grab your interest. Do you like math? Try an accounting or economics class. Love CSI? Sign up for Criminology 101 or the equivalent. An academic adviser or counselor can provide you with proper information and guidance to make a decision about your major.