What do you want to be when you grow up? That is a question often asked of children who know nothing of life, love, and loss. No matter what they say, they have no idea what they want to be when they grow up. They need time to answer that question properly. However, when you enroll in university and declare a major, you are definitely and expensively giving your answer to that question. You are presuming that you know what you want to be when you are all grown up.
If that is true, then there are certain things you will have to do before you hit that milestone. Somewhere between 8 and 18, you have to accomplish certain things so that you get your life’s work off to a good start. Every year, 40% of undergrads drop out of university. It is among all things possible that declaring the wrong major might be a part of the problem causing them to be unable or unwilling to complete their degree. It is also a matter of finance. Once you have spent two years in the wrong program, you might not have enough money to start again from scratch. Getting it right at the beginning is vital. Here are four ways to make sure you do:
Story Stages
1. Understand the Requirements
The MCAT serves the function of distinguishing medical college applicants from medical college participants. It is intentionally difficult. Having the right MCAT study schedule can make all the difference. Before deciding that you want to go into medicine, you need to know what is required. Perusing the MCAT criteria will go a long way toward helping you decide if this is really something you want to do
A lot of students choose occupational fields without realizing what all is involved. A student who is not great at math should never be allowed in an engineering program. They are going to wash out just as sure as if they had chosen accounting. Before naming a major, be sure you understand the requirements.
2. A Broader Perspective
One of the biggest advantages wealth affords is the ability to travel and see more people and places. People who have a chance to travel before settling down to university life have a better chance of finding success. It does not have to be unproductive travel. There are many jobs that support travel as a feature.
One of the reasons a child does not know what they want to be when they grow up is that they have only been exposed to fewer than a handful of all the possibilities, some of which are unrealistic. No matter how much you want to do it, not everyone can be an astronaut. Give yourself as many chances as possible to have a full range of things you might actually want to do.
3. Do Well in School
Some opportunities are tied to high school achievement. Without an acceptable GPA, you will not be able to enter certain programs at prestigious universities. As always, the only exception is spending a lot of money. If you don’t come from wealth, you will be dependent on scholarships and grants. Some grants are not dependent on past performance. But if you want to get into law school, medical school, or engineering school, you are going to have to show proof that you can handle the. curriculum.
4. Be Patient
Eight years is a big chunk of life, especially for someone who is only eighteen. Yet that is how long it will take for the typical terminal degree. It is worth every moment of it. You just have to be patient. That means putting off a lot of things such as marriage and children and home-ownership and cars and living life to the fullest.
There will be time for that afterward. With a solid career, you will be able to finance whatever life you want to live. You just have to realize how long it will take before your initial education is complete. A lot of people drop out because they couldn’t wait. They named a major that would cost them more time than they were willing to spend. It doesn’t have to be that way for you.
Declaring a major is a big decision. Choose wisely by understanding what the major requires, knowing your full range of possibilities, getting the grades, and being willing to delay gratification.
