What can American Idol teach you about choosing a major?

Choosing a major is like an American Idol contestant choosing the right song. Yes, I am going there.

So, how does a reality TV show that asks a contestant to find the right song (which may become the next pop hit) help you, as a student, to find a major? Think about it. What are the keys to a successful performance according to Randy Jackson?

• Find the “right” song for you. Know who you are as an artist.
• Don’t let others influence you. Trust your instincts.
• Once you have the right “fit,” put your own twist on it. Make it original.
• Focus on performing the song well. Forget about the runs, try not to dance badly on stage, avoid strange ‘costume’ looks that detract from the performance, etc.
• Learn from your performance; build on it.

Believe it or not, the same principles apply to a major choice. Often I hear high school students talk about majors. Most admit they feel the pressure to pick a major—if not by their senior year of high school, then by the time they enroll in college.  The fact is however, there is no schedule or correct way to choose a major—it is something that simply occurs when the time is right.

True, there are a handful of students who know exactly what their major will be, including a minor. They may have even planned graduate or professional studies. In this case, students really know who they are, where their interests lie, and which major is right for them. They select a college or university that offers additional experiential learning opportunities that will compliment what they want to study to make the experience unique.  They know that GPA is important, so they focus on course requirements initially and then plan to learn along the way about courses or opportunities that align with their career choice. They might very well be the ones that admission counselors anticipate will get the song choice right.  But in reality, sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t.

Now for the majority of contestants—the undecided students or the students who think they know what they want to major in but are still shopping for the right song, the right “fit.” It is important that these students trust their instincts, take courses in subjects that interest them, do the best they can in these classes, and if they try something and don’t like it or don’t do well, they have the freedom to pick up and go another direction.

You might be surprised to know that roughly 25% of Loyola’s freshman applicants for fall 2011 are undecided about their major. Most students search for their chosen major by taking Core classes, learning via internships, participating in service learning, getting involved in clubs or organizations, and taking part in study abroad.  Admission counselors can also see the merit of this path because students are able to follow their instincts, discover their passion, and hopefully, perform very well.

If you are trying to determine your college major now, check out our college major finder!