Tufts Blogs

Trying to pick a college or university to go to has to be one of the hardest decisions out there for high school students. Based on limited information and experience, you people have to decide where you want to spend the next four years of your life to study, socialize, and continue on with life. That's no small task! The hard decisions don't end there though. Once you pick a school to attend (hopefully Tufts!), you will face the inevitable decision of choosing a major. I'm here to give a quick rundown on some things to keep in mind when thinking about this important and difficult decision process.

1. Try out a variety of classes your first two semesters. Even if you think you have a plan for what you want to study, there are so many awesome classes out there that could lead to new interests. I thought I wanted to study psychology going into my freshman year, but the one political science class I took that year out of curiosity ended up sparking a new academic interest for me.

2. Look for great teachers. Classes can have really cool titles and seem very good, but ultimately it is the professor that can make a class come alive or not. In my lone political science class freshman year, I had an excellent professor who explained things very well while managing to use memes in his lectures, so I had a blast every day of class. My teaching assistant for the same class was also amazing and seriously cared about every single one of her students, and now I'm taking a class currently with her.

3. See how your interests align with courses. If you have narrowed down what you want to study and have a set focus, then picking a major may be pretty easy. However, if your interests happen to be interdisciplinary, then explore courses in multiple majors and see where the intersections lie. Some majors have fewer course requirements than others and span over fewer departments, so keep that in mind while you make your decision.

4. Keep an open mind. I decided to major in political science at the start of my sophomore year, but I have also developed a new interest in economics as well as entrepreneurial studies and urban planning. While these interests don't always align with my major, I still pursue them to the best of my abilities. You can always switch majors or find ways to incorporate other disciplines into your decided major, so this decision is not a binding one.

Happy choosing!