Skip to content
  • Solutions
    Our Services
    Admissions Committee Review
    BS/MD & Pre-Med Admissions
    Business School Admissions
    College Prep for Neurodiverse Students
    Computer Science & Engineering
    Essay Advising and Review
    Gap Year Admissions
    Middle School College Prep
    Test Prep
    ACT Test Prep
    SAT Test Prep
    Transfer Admissions
  • About Us
    Our Story
    Why Us
    Success Stories
    Contact Us
  • Programs
    AI Scholar Program
    Research Scholar Program
    Startup Internship Program
    Passion Project Program
  • Resources
    Blog
    Webinars
    Empowerly Score®
  • For Organizations
    Partnerships & Affiliates
    Empowerly for Employers

Sign In

Free Consultation
Book a Free Consultation

Login

  • Blog > Grade Levels, High School

How to Pick a College: Part 2 Choosing By Major

Picture of Madeleine Karydes

Madeleine Karydes

  • May 4, 2016

Think of academic study in college as an opportunity to refine a skillset. At Empowerly, we ask our students what problem they want to solve—and from there, which skills they’ll need to address it. Choosing a major is the first step and should always serve as part of an academic plan. Building on this, your college decision should be based on the overall tools and resources a university offers. Hopefully, you have a tentative idea that can be easily explained! If not, we’ll help you, so you can pick a college by major that you’re interested in.

Unique Major/Minor Combination

Depending on school size and academic focus, universities can offer 80-100 majors across departments, so create a few different scenarios to back up your college decision. Ultimately this takes time but having a plan will help direct focus. Start by looking for specific concentrations or minors to supplement your interests. You can learn as much as you want so don’t feel restricted.

For example, what should you do with an interest in data science and energy policy? Job prospects seem to increasingly come up as an influential factor but projections are tough to correlate beyond simple major selection. One possible route is the overlap between Computer Science and a Climate Change minor. Algorithmic construction is a key part of computer programming and typically combines with data sweeps for solutions. In the energy sector, this can lead to environmental modeling, situational simulations, and much more. Such applications demonstrate an often unspoken truth! They prove that interest drives learning.

Research Labs

The classroom isn’t the only place where students find applications. College decisions should be informed by research opportunities in labs where cutting-edge research takes place. Universities vary in resources and offerings which can affect the intellectual landscape. While one university houses virtual reality, another may study its medical uses. Students should have an eye on opportunities to work as research assistants to gain exposure to laboratory techniques and study design, components that make up scholarly research.

Professors

Outside of teaching professors often dedicate their time to publishing their academic findings in books, journals, and other research publications. Their university websites frequently list short bios, contact information, course listings, and topics of interest. This is incredibly useful in mapping the possibilities and discovering or reinforcing academic inclinations.

For example, the CS + Environmental interest could be bolstered by investigations into the economic policies of Southeast Asian Countries, the history of U.S. renewable energy developments, service-learning opportunities with urban renewal non-profit organizations, and many more. Individually, these scenarios likely can’t tip the scales in college decisions, but as a collective, they enable solid comparisons between universities.

Book A Free Consultation
Share this post
College Internships
Picture of Madeleine Karydes

Madeleine Karydes

Related articles

Find the latest college admissions news, tips, resources and more.

How to Get into Harvard — and Get a Degree that Opens Doors

Learn what it takes to get into Harvard, earn a strong degree, and build a future that stands out. Empowerly is here to help you achieve your dreams!

College Admissions: Regular Decision Dates for 2025

Each spring, millions of high school students eagerly await the big news. Let’s review the major college decision dates for the RD pool in 2025.

Top Medical Schools 2025: Rankings & Admissions Insights

Discover the top medical schools of 2025, what sets them apart, and how to boost your chances of getting in with expert insights.

Empowerly is a member of:

Menu

  • Services
  • Success Stories
  • Careers
  • Become a Counselor
  • Refer a Friend
  • Book a Consult

Contact Us

  • enrollment@empowerly.com
  • 800 491 6920
  • empowerly.com

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
Subscribe to our Newsletter
© 2025 Empowerly Inc | All Rights Reserved
Cookie Preferences
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
Solutions
Our Services
Admissions Committee Review
BS/MD & Pre-Med Admissions
Business School Admissions
College Prep for Neurodiverse Students
Computer Science & Engineering
Essay Advising and Review
Gap Year Admissions
Middle School College Prep
Test Prep
ACT Test Prep
SAT Test Prep
Transfer Admissions
About Us
Our Story
Why Us
Success Stories
Programs
AI Scholar Program
Research Scholar Program
Startup Internship Program
Resources
Blog
Referral
Webinars
Empowerly Score®
For Organizations
Partnerships & Affiliates
Empowerly for Employers
Book a Free Consultation
Login