University is one of the biggest transitions you can make education-wise. You spend most of your life in school where you have teachers and adults to guide you not only through your education but also your social life and any concerns you have. It is your first step into education as an adult and one of the biggest decisions you can make is choosing your major. It determines the courses you will take and the fields you will continue to specialize in the future. Our YouTube channel has advice from all different professions and may help you to decide your own:
Now you have probably already heard the terms minor and major, but what exactly are they?
Major
A university major is something that you are primarily studying. It is your main focus and what you may or may not choose to turn into a career later on. A major however is not something you choose once and it stays that way you entire academic years. You can always change your mind about what you want to major in however it may also be noted that making this switch later on may elongate the time it takes you to complete your degree.
Some universities suggest that you take up multiple majors and drop some eventually after you understand which one is right for you. You can also take up double majors to expand your options after university but this will increase your workload and if you are not able to balance it with your life in general it may just prove to be stressful for you.
Minor
A minor on the other hand is a secondary field of study, something you choose that helps enhance your major or compliments it in some way. An example may be getting a bachelor of history with a minor in journalism. However, this is just a single example out of the millions of options out there. Minors are usually seen as something that supports your major.
However, this is not always true. Some students may also choose their minor entirely based on personal interest, it may be completely different from their major. An example may be majoring in science and then choosing an art minor. Some people believe that you should be smart about choosing your minor and choosing it entirely based on personal interest may be a waste of time and money. The view on this statement truly depends on the person. Some people may choose closely related majors and minors and others may find themselves more comfortable choosing something entirely different to what they majored in.
However, the statement about how you can choose to change a major at any point also stands true for your minor. You can choose to change it at any time as you wish and don’t feel afraid to do so! Many people change subjects tons of time before they finally come to a decision as to what their interests are. Many people find themselves as graduated alumnus and are still not able to pinpoint their interests.
What’s the difference?
If the difference wasn’t apparent enough a major is your main field and class. It makes up the majority of your schooling and also the majority of the hours of classes you take. Your major will be shown on your diploma when you graduate.
On the other hand a minor is more of a secondary field. As we wrote above, you can choose yourself whether you want a minor that complements your major or not. Your diploma may not necessarily be displayed on your diploma.
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