One of the biggest mistakes any student makes is going to college without having a clear idea of what they want to do. A lot of students just "drift" into a college major either because their friends are doing it or they can’t think of anything better to do. It should hardly come as a surprise then that a whopping 50-70% college students change their major at least once.

Agreed that it’s hard for an 18-year-old to know exactly which career path to follow, but given that you spend two to four long years in college and a considerable amount of your parent’s hard earned money, it is important to put some thought into choosing an academic major.

Some of the most important questions you need to ask yourself when you have to select your undergraduate or graduate degrees are:

Am I interested in this major?

Picking up a major you’re interested in is important because not only do you have to invest a considerable amount of time and effort studying it in college, but it will also decide the course of your career. You’re likely to shine in your academic as well as professional life if you choose a major that excites you. If helping others is what drives you, if you love the thrill of working in a healthcare environment and delivering critical care to patients in emergency situations, then you might do well pursing healthcare degrees like nursing, healthcare administration, or the emerging field of medical specialties.

Action: Draw up a list of careers you are interested in and then choose the majors that focus on these fields. Use the elimination method to shortlist the ones that you feel strongly about and look for reputable universities that offer these majors.

Do I have the aptitude for it?

Whichever major you decide to pursue, evaluating your aptitude is the first step towards achieving success in it. Every field has certain requirements that you need to fit if you are to do well. For example, if you want to pursue a business administration degree, you not only need to exhibit excellent communication skills and leadership quality, but you should also be good at data interpretation, analytical thinking, etc. Similarly, anyone pursuing an information technology degree should be good at math and logical ability.

Action: Take an appointment with a career counselor who can give you an aptitude test. Many universities these days offer career planning to help students choose the right major.

What is the return on investment?

Such is the reality of post-recession life that we look at education as an investment and want maximum returns on it. College degrees, especially business degrees, have a very high tuition fee. If you’re investing money in a program that can potentially burn a huge hole in your pocket, it makes sense to ensure that you can earn the money back once you graduate with that degree.

Action: Check the earning potential of the college degree programs you have short listed. You can use resources like the websites of Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Education to get salary information of various professions.

What are the job prospects?

Once you have figured out the majors you are interested in, it is a good idea to check the job prospects of these fields. Many fields like accounting, nursing, and business administration, have a high demand. So, those who have a healthcare and business degree enjoy excellent employment opportunities after graduation.

Action: Talk to some alumni who graduated with those majors or interview professionals in the field to get a perspective on employment opportunities in those fields. You can also check college placement records to get an idea of the hiring trends in your chosen industry.

Once you have all this information, the job of picking a major should become easier. College is one of the most exciting phases of life and you’ll be able to get the best out of it if you know where you’re going with it once you walk out of the classroom!