Published: Feb. 10, 2020
girl studying

When I first started college, choosing my major seemed really intimidating to me. My varying interests pulled me in different directions. Should I pursue my creative interests and study art? Would I feel more fulfilled if I studied environmental science to help change the world? Would a degree in business solidify a job after college? How much money do I want to make?

As young students, there are so many factors that play into the important decisions we have to make for ourselves. For me personally, I knew I wanted to be able to make a difference in the world, do something I am passionate about, while also being financially stable. With all of these factors, attempting to decide my major was not as simple and straightforward as I thought it would be.

When I transferred to CU Boulder, their website was a really useful tool for me. I was able to explore different majors and try to envision myself studying these various topics. Something that really helped me was looking at the required courses for each major, and determining which classes sparked the most excitement for me. Deciding on a major is a huge commitment, not only for your college experience, but for the rest of your life. It was important for me to find something that I can see myself getting excited and passionate about (as least as much as possible in big lectures).

Talking with a career development advisor at Career Services on campus was also extremely beneficial and validating. I was able to talk to her openly and honestly in a way that I was not able to with my parents. Both my mom and dad have varying suggestions of what they think I should do, which can often get in the way of my own vision of what I want for myself. It felt really good to be able to sit down with someone with no bias or attachment to the major I was deciding to pursue. Being able to sit down and lay it all out was a way for me to gain perspective on what I really wanted and what really mattered to me. 

I realized that for me the most important aspects of my major were using my strengths to grow as an individual, being able to have a job in my community in which I can help others, and feeling fulfilled by what I was studying. After taking a few psychology classes, I noticed myself leaving class still asking myself questions about the content I was learning. I would sometimes find myself analyzing people around me, and relating it back to the curriculum in my psych classes. I was able to use my natural strengths, while also being challenged by the vast nature of the human brain and behavior. Psychology allows so many different paths whether I decide I want to go into the health field, education, research or even business. Allowing myself to have different options is also really important to me so I can truly explore what makes me happy in the long term. 


Francesca is a senior at CU Boulder. She is studying psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences.