Choosing Your Major

The questions below are a great starting point for your personal reflection. You can also meet with your current academic adviser, CLS adviser, favorite professors, or an adviser in the Academic Success Center to discuss your interests, strengths, and goals, all of which can influence the major you choose.

• What classes have you found interesting and engaging?
• What topic(s) could you talk about for hours?
• What industry do you think you might like to enter after graduation?
• What topics do you like to learn about?
• What role, if any, does your family have in your major decision?

Myth #1: My major will determine my career path for the rest of my life, so I have to choose a major that relates to my future
career.
» This may be true if you know what you want your future career to be, but don’t forget that most people don’t stay
in the same career their whole life. Choose a major that you find interesting and will teach you the skills you need
to be successful in a variety of industries.

Myth #2: I have to decide on my major quickly.
» Grinnell requires that students declare one major by the second semester of their second year. You need to
declare your major before you pre-register for your fifth semester. For some majors, there could be some benefits
for declaring earlier, such as priority registration for major courses, so ask your academic adviser about a timeline
that works for you and your intended major.

Myth #3: Once I declare my major, I can’t change it later.
» While you will need to declare a major, keep in mind that you can change your major or add additional majors or
a concentration later, as long as you will have time to complete the credit requirements for your new major or
concentration. You can change your major by submitting this form to the Registrar.

Myth #4: The more majors and concentrations I combine, the more marketable for a full-time job I will be.
» Choosing too many majors and concentrations may leave you feeling over-committed, with not much flexibility,
and no additional marketability. Remember, you can develop skills for your career outside of the classroom that will
complement the skills you develop inside the classroom. Think carefully about your goals before declaring multiple
majors and concentrations.

Myth #5: Everyone at Grinnell double majors.
» Not true! In the last five years, less than half of each graduating class has double majored.

Myth #6: Grinnell doesn’t have the major I want, so I have to do an independent major.
» While you can certainly plan an independent major, many students find that the knowledge and skills they get by
completing a major and concentration, or even two majors, provides a solid foundation for their post-graduate
plans. Students interested in declaring an Independent major should complete this form.

It’s important to think about your academic experience beyond the major you declare. You have the opportunity to create a broad program with multiple foci, enhanced by each class you choose. Focus on gaining career-related curricular experiences as well through research, Off Campus Study (OCS), independent study including MAPS, and other experiential opportunities. Pursue experiences beyond the curriculum, such as campus employment, community involvement, student organization activities, internships and externships, summer jobs, CLS treks, alternative break trips, and Service Learning Work Study positions.

As you intentionally add these experiences, think about how they build on interests and skills you already have and how they intersect with each other. Testing out the industries and areas you are most interested in can help you narrow your focus and decide on a major. Participate in experiences that can help you explore your passions, connect with individuals who have majored in fields you want to know more about, and develop skills for post-graduate life.

Faculty Adviser
Your current adviser will assist you with considering possible majors, pros/cons of a double major or adding a concentration, considering an independent major (if you’re interested), and identifying a new adviser as you begin the major declaration process.

Academic Success Center
The staff in the Academic Success Center will consult with you on all of the above topics, offering a place to reflect and an additional perspective for your decision. They also coordinate Level Up, a program with events and resources for second-years, including major declaration support.

CLS
Your CLS exploratory adviser can support you as you reflect on your interests, explore major options, and consider how these can connect to your post-graduate plans.

Faculty and Students in Each Major
All departmental faculty are well-versed in the requirements of their department’s major(s) and can speak to the courses you would need to take. Request syllabi for classes of interest from faculty members to gauge your interest level in the course content. To get a student’s perspective on a major, it can be very helpful to talk to students in the department’s Student Educational Policy Committee (SEPC).

Office of International Student Affairs
If you are a F-1 student seeking an internship or job in the U.S. during or after graduation, consult with the Office of International Student Affairs to discuss work authorization and how your intended major(s) relate to your plans.

Alumni
Grinnell alumni have been where you are and want to support your interests and goals. Conducting informational interviews with Grinnell alumni can provide insight about how their major impacted their career path. Use the alumni search feature on LinkedIn to find alumni, and read through the CLS’s how-to guide on informational interviews.

Other Professionals
You likely have individuals in your personal network who can speak to their experience with their own major and how it impacted their post-graduate plans. Conducting informational interviews with these individuals can also be beneficial.