“What are you going to major in?”

If you are a high school junior or senior, you probably hear this question three times a day. Society puts an immense amount of pressure on 17-year-olds to map out the next forty years of their lives before they even receive their high school diploma.

If you have no idea what you want to study, take a deep breath. You are not falling behind. In fact, being undecided is a great opportunity to explore your options without being locked into a path that doesn’t actually fit you.

If you are feeling stuck, here is a step-by-step guide to take the anxiety out of choosing a major and start building a real academic roadmap.

Step 1: Stop Looking for a “Passion” and Start Looking for “Curiosities”

We are often told to “follow our passion.” But “passion” is a heavy, intimidating word. What if you don’t have a burning passion for accounting or molecular biology?

• The Fix: Lower the stakes. Ask yourself what you are simply curious about. What YouTube videos do you watch in your free time? What topics do you naturally argue about at the dinner table? Curiosities are the seeds that eventually grow into careers.

Step 2: Focus on “Verbs” Instead of “Nouns”

Instead of focusing on a noun (like becoming a “Lawyer,” “Engineer,” or “CEO”), focus on the verbs—the daily actions you actually enjoy doing.

• The Fix: Do you like researching, building, presenting, organizing, or helping? If you love researching and writing, you might thrive in journalism, law, or history. If you love building and optimizing, you might be meant for computer science or supply chain management. Find your verbs, and the major will follow.

Step 3: Speak to People a Few Steps Ahead of You

A university brochure is designed to look perfect, but it won’t tell you what the late-night study sessions actually look like.

• The Fix: Conduct “informational interviews.” Find university students who are currently studying the majors you are considering, or young professionals in your fields of interest. Ask them what their day-to-day life is actually like, and what the hardest part of their degree is.

Step 4: Rely on Data, Not Just Guesses

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Sometimes, it takes an outside perspective to see the strengths you are blind to.

• The Fix: Professional career assessments evaluate your unique aptitudes, personality traits, and working styles to match you with degrees and careers you might have never even considered.

Find Your Direction with Educom

You don’t have to have it all figured out today, but you do need a plan to find the answers.

At Educom, our Academic Path Planning service is designed specifically for the “lost student.” We don’t just ask you what you want to do; we use comprehensive assessments, one-on-one discovery sessions, and honest guidance to help you uncover your strengths. We can even help you explore the environments and futures waiting for you across the globe.

Stop guessing your next steps. [Schedule your initial discovery session] with our expert advisors today, and let’s map out a future you are truly excited about.