Where will your new skills lead you?

I’ve heard it said that, rather than helping you determine your future career, college is how you determine the things that you absolutely don’t want to do. There’s a kernel of truth to that; you ask high schoolers to pick an entire career path for themselves, it’s not unthinkable for them to realize midway through college that they made a bad call. That’s okay, you don’t need to nail it in one go. The most important thing about college isn’t necessarily determining the course of your entire life, but to pick up new skills, try new things, and make more educated decisions.

No matter what your major is, you’ll probably have an opportunity to try all sorts of different subjects as you gather credits. Even if a class has nothing to do with your major, if it sounds interesting to you, go ahead and take it. Best case scenario, you may discover a passion you didn’t previously know about. Worst case scenario, you get through it, you get your credits, and you get on with your life.

College is also a fantastic time for networking, both at the top and bottom of the corporate pyramid. You’ll likely make no shortage of friends, all of whom can serve as a point of connection to a variety of fields and industries. Most colleges also offer career services that can put you in touch with various mentors and professionals, as well as serve as a connection for setting up internships. Depending on your major, you may have an internship as part of requirements anyway, so it might as well be something you’re interested in.

The good news is that even if you end up not loving your major, just having a degree can open doors for you. It’s more than possible to spin a seemingly unrelated Bachelor’s in any number of directions.