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College students in the USA often ask: “How much does my undergraduate major matter towards my future career?” Well, the answer to this question is neither black nor white—it varies depending on your situation.

Without a doubt, the type of degree that you have will determine what job market you will be competitive in. However, some degrees are more flexible than others while some careers require more specialized degrees than others.  For example, if you want to enter a profession related to medicine, law, engineering or architecture, a specialized degree would be essential towards further career development.

With that said, some degrees are more flexible. A degree in economics would arguably provide more versatility in the job market than a degree in, for example, elementary education. Essentially, the more specialized your major is, the more difficult it may be to apply your skills to another discipline. However, this fact shouldn’t deter you from pursuing a specialized major if you’re certain of your desired career.

In many cases, students enter college undecided about their major. For most, students spend the beginning of their college careers exploring different subjects in order to pinpoint their interests. In fact, many choose to attend Liberal Arts schools, which tend to have a greater emphasis on all-rounded learning. Liberal Arts schools are generally less pre-professional than most research institutions but pride themselves in their liberal, multi-faceted curricula.

Some college students who desire to expand their job opportunities choose to pursue dual degrees or double majors. By doing so, they increase their versatility within the job market. Typically, undergraduate dual degrees take about five years to earn opposed to the typical 4 years for a single degree. Dual majors can, in most cases, be earned within 4 years.

When looking for new employees, companies will hire those whose field of study is most well suited to the requirements of the job. It is important to remember, though, that your major is only one aspect that employers look at. Most companies are interested in your extracurricular and out of school experiences. In many ways, your extracurricular activities and outside accomplishments may be of equal importance as your college major during the job selection process. Interpersonal skills are also extremely important as employers are looking for those who have good leadership, communication and problem solving skills.

Thus, although your college major can be useful in guiding you towards a preferred career, it should be seen more as a framework rather than a direct path.  College is an opportunity to explore different possibilities and by branching out, you will learn more about yourself and develop a clearer picture of your future. Remember, your major is important but ultimately, it’s not the only factor in the job selection process.