College Planning Guide: What If You Don’t Know What You Want to Do for College?

There’s no scarier thought in mind for a high school student than constantly thinking about what it is that they want to do with their life when they are older. What do you want to study? What do you want to do as a dream job? These questions all come with uncertainty that’s normal, and lots of students fall into a trap of thinking they are more prepared than they actually are. 

It’s one of the biggest misconceptions among high school students, and it leads to them questioning if they chose the right major and if there’s a way to not lose ground amongst others around them once they have already started.

The truth is that many students enter college undecided about their future careers or at least with a small idea in mind. Many students arrive with a clear plan, but often change directions once they discover new inspirations and new interests. It happens all the time! 

The students who appear confident today may have very different goals a few years from now, and we’ve talked to so many students who have gone through this. That’s where Send Your Kids to College comes in, because we want to help you get through this.

In this blog, we will give you a college planning guide on what happens if you don’t know what you want to do for college, whether for your major or future career goals.

Find Your Interests and Plan From There

There’s another misconception: the idea that you need to find your major immediately and only focus on finding one thing to get interest from. At the end of the day, everyone has a multitude of interests and passions, and a college major should not just come down to only one. Lots of majors include a handful of different professions, so you have endless options, and it all comes down to what you feel most comfortable with. 

But… you can get there if you don’t create a list and break it down. Once you do this, if by chance you do change majors, it will become clear what you can pivot to once you gain good experience.

As that list of interests continues to grow, don’t be afraid to go out there and gain that experience. Get involved with shadowing professionals at their job, volunteer, take up a summer internship, a part-time job, or any other form of a program that will give you the experience you need. Also, don’t feel afraid to have an honest conversation about whether something doesn’t work out or if it does. Share with family and friends and get as much feedback as possible.

Think Beyond What Your Career Will Be

The other part of this debate that you have to think about is what you want your lifestyle to be. You will learn a great deal from this as your college life goes on, but sometimes it’s important to reflect on the kind of life you want to live. Do you enjoy working with groups of people? Are you into technology-based work? Is your goal to help people, build something, solve a major problem, or be the person who leads a team?

You basically want to build on your skills and your personality. You can’t always just think beyond what you want your career to be. Build on your communication skills, problem-solving, leadership, and critical thinking. If you can master one of those, you might be well prepared for any profession that utilizes it a lot. The best communicators go on to be public speakers and take up high positions in companies where getting their goals across is important.

With the way the workforce here in the United States is changing so rapidly, with the new wave of AI and other aspects of life influencing changes for certain jobs, you are going to have to learn this at a rapid rate. Don’t be scared, though! We have your back! Not knowing your future is not a weakness; it’s simply part of life for most high school students ready to begin this new journey for their education. 

No one ever finds success having the answer to everything immediately; it all takes time. As you prepare for college, remember that you have a wide range of resources out there to assist you. The Send Your Kids to College website is filled with everything you need. If you or your parents are ever in need of help, give us a call or reach out through our contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as we can!

College Planning FAQ

What should I do if I don’t know what I want to major in for college?

If you’re unsure what major you want to take before starting college, you’re not alone. It’s common amongst many students! The best approach is to explore your interests, gain real-world experience, and focus on developing transferable skills. Everything from leadership, communication, teamwork, and more. College is all about discovering yourself. Your major and career goals can evolve as you learn more, which will lead to the best result you’re looking for.