Choosing a Major: Questions to Ask Yourself
- If I were to choose a major at this moment, what would it be and why?
- What skills do I want to learn in order to prepare for a career?
- If I could do one thing for free, what would it be?
- What can I see myself doing for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week?
- What are the positive/negative sides of choosing this major?
- What jobs/hobbies/extracurricular activities have I enjoyed the most so far?
- How would I spend my time if money didn't matter?
- What are my goals at Duke? What are my goals in my career and life? How can they coexist?
- What is my gut feeling telling me regarding major choice?
- Have I talked to anyone in the majors I am considering?
- Have I meet a Duke alum yet, and asked them what they studied?
- Have I looked at Duke alumni on LinkedIn and/or the Duke Alumni Network to see their majors and different positions?
- What interests do I want to explore?
- Are there any problems I would like to address or solve? How might what I study factor in to my ability to tackle those problems?
- What have I been successful in so far? (You can measure this success by coursework you've taken, organizations you've founded or been a part of, athletics, or by utilizing a particular skillset.)
- What subjects do I like the most? Do these subjects come naturally to me?
Choosing a Major: Questions to Ask Departments or Advisors
- Does this major allow for research, study abroad, and/or internships/fellowships?
- Why do students select this major?
- What kind of relationship do your professors have with your majors?
- What are the implications of majoring in this subject versus minoring in it?
- How much flexibility does this major have? (Consider those college/life/career goals)
- What are the specific course requirements for this major?
- Are there scholarships/funding available specifically for students in this major?
- What skills will this major help me develop?
- What kinds of jobs do students with this major typically pursue?
- What sort of jobs have your previous majors gotten that have surprised you and what skills did they use from your major?
- Is graduate school usually required to work in the fields associated with this major?