Many students get stressed over deciding their major and whether or not they’ll still want to pursue it a few years from now. So, if this is you, you are certainly not alone. However, deciding your major doesn’t have to be stressful at all!

While it’s important to consider your future in the long run, it's crucial to pay attention to your short-term needs for a healthy journey through university.

Here are three things you should keep in mind when choosing your major:

1. Follow your passions

Many people believe that going into a program to follow your passion is not an ideal approach to your future.

They believe that relying on your interests and hobbies cannot sustain a realistic career and distracts you from opportunities with more security and stability.

But university is stressful—there are deadlines, assignments and grades to worry about; it’s long (give or take four years) and difficult (as you come to learn that the hamburger method from English class results in an unsatisfactory grade).

But, if you go into a program of your interest, it will push you to challenge your skills and curiosity, making the workload more manageable. In the end, you’ll graduate with self-integrity and a lot of lessons that have prepared you for your future.

2. Your physical degree isn’t everything

Simply flashing your university degree to future employers won’t get you your dream job. A degree is a prop that verifies your academic achievements; it's an asset that can lead you to opportunities, but it is only one piece of the puzzle.

University is the time to invest in yourself and to experience things that will positively influence your knowledge and skills. Volunteering, participating in research and completing co-ops, internships and practicums are great ways to expand your skills and gain valuable first-hand knowledge. These experiences, alongside your degree, will help open up doors for your future.

3. Be open to change

Don’t stress if things don’t go as planned. Things change, interests take a turn, people leave school and people come back.

If you ever find yourself walking toward a different path from what you had planned for yourself, remember that it is better to do it now than never. You don’t want to regret missing an opportunity. Take a chance and trust yourself!

Though there are many factors to consider when choosing a major, these are three less commonly mentioned—but still very important—ideas worth reflecting on. 

Want to learn more about some of the programs you could be majoring in at our university?