When you went to college, you thought you were finally done with the annoying and repetitive “What college are you going to go to?” question. But guess what? Sometime between the day you left for college and your first long-weekend home, a new question has been brewing. One that will be asked until the day you graduate by your parents, aunts, dentist, and any guy you meet at a frat party… “So, what’s your major?”

Choosing a major is often one of the most difficult decisions students have to make in their college careers—but don’t fret! Most students change their major at least one time (and many change their major several times) before finding one that fits their goals, interests and, most importantly, is something they actually enjoy studying! College is all about exploration: Think of choosing a major as an opportunity to learn more about yourself.

Majors exist to allow students to specialize in a specific academic discipline. While choosing a major is a significant step in determining your future, it is important to recognize the many misconceptions surrounding your choice, including:

“My major will determine my career.”
While there are some majors that are vocation-specific (such as engineering), most majors do not lead to a specific career. Recent studies have shown that people change careers several times over the course of their lifetime. No single major can prepare you for several distinct careers, which further supports the notion that you should study what you love.

“I should declare a major as early as possible.”
Many students will enter college with a specific major already chosen; others will start college as an “undeclared” major. The advantage of declaring your major early is that you start getting into your major coursework earlier in your college career. However, by leaving your options open, you may stumble on a French class that changes your course of study—and your life.