Choosing a major is not always easy. For many students, they are not sure what they want to study when they get to college. Other students choose majors based on what other people think might be a good fit for them. Even for the students who go into college with a set major, many change their mind and change their major while in school. Get to know yourself and you might find a major that is a great fit for you. Guest blogger Hannah Whittenly shares some academic majors and the personality types that might want to consider those majors. 

Guest Blog by Hannah Whittenly

Everybody knows that the purpose of a college degree is to prepare students for a professional career, but did you know that it could be important to assess your personality before choosing your academic pathway? Below are five majors and the personality types that are best for those fields.

Education

Teaching requires a great deal of patience and dedication. Introverts perform well in this profession because they need limited supervision to do their job. Teachers are responsible for managing their own classroom using organization and problem-solving skills. Educators need to be empathic to help students learn material. School teachers also need multi-tasking skills to be able to be productive in the classroom.

Nursing

Nursing is an excellent career choice for people with a desire to help others. A nursing major is ideal for students interested in learning about science. Medical professionals need to have an outgoing personality so that they are better able to interact with the general public. It’s also important for them to remain calm under pressure. Nursing majors should also have the ability to make decisions based on facts and common sense.

Accounting

Accountants earn a competitive salary, but this profession isn’t always a good fit for extroverts. Professionals in this career spend most of their time working alone. They need to be good with numbers and detail-oriented. Accounting professionals rely on analytical skills to create and review financial reports. It’s also crucial for them to be precise and ethical when conducting business.

Sociology

Social work and counseling is an ideal career choice for extroverts with good decision-making and problem-solving skills. Sociology majors should have a desire to help others and enjoy communicating with people. Social workers are required to work with people from all walks of life. It’s also important for them to have good listening skills and be empathetic in unfortunate situations, especially since they will be required to make important decisions that impact the lives of others.

Business

Business executives work in leadership roles that require analytical and decision-making skills. Executives make important judgments that affect the success of a company as well as the employees that work there. Business leaders need to look at the big picture instead of concentrating on small details. That is because executives and other higher-up individuals create strategic plans to resolve current problems and plan for the future.

What Type of School is Best for Your Major/Personality?

Before you choose your degree, you will probably most likely have to choose your school first—unless you already know what you want to go into and are basing all of your decisions off of that. While some people, especially extroverts, may thrive at the bigger universities like Yale and Princeton, others may prefer to go to a local community or junior college before they take that bigger step. Others, though, may prefer not to go to a physical college and prefer to get their education online. The great thing about that, though, is that you’re not limited to how high you can reach. Some people have even been able to get their masters in higher education administration or other such fields.

Before you make any decisions, you should consider your personality. Is your major or school really right for who you are? By taking that into consideration, you will be able to find the right career for your future.

Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She graduated from the California State University, Sacramento with a degree in Journalism. You can find Hannah on Twitter.