Lucia Hoyt

Senior students are often overwhelmed when choosing their college major.

As the end of the school year approaches, seniors at Benilde-St. Margaret’s are deciding where they will be attending college and what they plan to study there. Pressures arise as they navigate a path that will shape their futures in the classroom and in the professional working environment. This choice will lead them to different opportunities in the future.

Sometimes, the college experience takes priority over the major itself. This can include the social scene and the surrounding areas of the college. Senior Josie Dvorak plans to study industrial engineering in college.“I would say I’m choosing the college experience over my major because I know that wherever I go, I’ll be able to find a good job. I just want to make sure I am having that fun time,” Dvorak said.

When deciding on a college major, many different factors go into the decision. This can include high school courses, the influence of family members, career choices, and more. Senior KK Geherin shared some of the factors that led to her college major decision. She plans on majoring in pre-physical therapy and isn’t solely basing her major on the college experience. She wants to make sure the college she goes to sets her up for success in the field of pre-physical therapy. “One of the two colleges [I’m deciding between] has a better program, and it’s connected to the hospital, which gives me more opportunities,” Geherin says.

The classes that students take in high school allow them to discover some of the subjects that they are interested in, along with the possibility of what they would like to study in college. For Dvorak, taking engineering courses throughout her time at BSM shaped her college major decision because they showed her that it is a path she is interested in. Similarly, the classes Geherin has taken throughout high school have also played a role in what she wants to study in college. “I’ve always taken AP Biomed classes and honors science classes, so those have definitely helped me prepare for my major next year,” Geherin said.

Choosing a college major will be one of the most important decisions that high school seniors will make before embarking on their college education. Whether it is choosing their academic passion, the college experience, or influence from others, seniors are carefully considering how this choice will shape their futures.