To students, choosing a college major is about following their dreams and passion, but for many, it’s about following the crowd. Every year, popular majors like business, engineering and biology dominate the charts, reflecting not only what students care about, but what they believe will secure them the right future.
As more students weigh passion against practicality, Nicholas Bernbeck, a counselor at South, has noticed a trend toward majors that promise stability.
“There is a big emphasis on employability,” Bernbeck said. “There is a want and desire to choose a major that has a job at the end.”
That practicality doesn’t just show up in counseling offices, but also in students’ decisions. For many, including Maeve Shine ’27, thinking about choosing a popular major isn’t just about interest, it’s also about feeling confident that their degree will lead to a stable career.
“I’ve always been interested in science, especially biology,” Shine said. “But I also know that it’s a major that hires well and it feels like a safe path.”
The popularity of these majors doesn’t just affect career paths, it also makes getting into colleges that much more competitive. Connor Smith ’26, considering majoring in business, has noticed how many students are aiming for the same spots he is.
“I know several other people that are applying for the same major,” Smith said. “It makes you realize you have to work harder to stand out, even before college.”
Even with the pressure of choosing these popular majors, most students don’t even go into the career paths they initially planned. Most of the time, students will realize that they don’t enjoy what they’re doing and want to switch to a different major.
“It seems like most college students find their true interests after some time,” Shine said. “They realize what they really want to do in life is not this impressive major, but rather something they are passionate about.”
Students who initially choose a high-demand major for stability often pivot once they explore college life. Bernbeck sees importance in students taking both passion and practicality into account when choosing a major to find a balanced path that fits them the best.
“I recommend students do the best of both worlds,” Bernbeck said. “It is just as important to do something you love doing as it is to have a stable career.”
