The Problem Isn’t the Major—It’s the Question
What makes the college application process difficult isn’t the possibility of making the wrong choice; it’s the question itself. When you ask, “Which major should I choose?” you’re actually asking, “Who do I want to be?” And that’s not a question a 17-year-old is expected to answer.
Erik Erikson defines identity development as a process that spans the entire human lifespan. During adolescence, individuals oscillate between “identity exploration” and “identity confusion” (Identity: Youth and Crisis, 1968). Choosing a college is a decision expected to be made right in the midst of this confusion. It’s therefore not surprising that the outcome feels so weighty.
Why Doesn’t Having Many Options Help?
There are hundreds of universities and thousands of departments in Turkey. In theory, this diversity is an opportunity. In practice, however, it works exactly the opposite way.
In his book The Paradox of Choice (2004), Barry Schwartz argues that as the number of options increases, the decision-making process takes longer, and the decision made feels less satisfying. This is because every choice carries with it the image of dozens of alternatives that were not chosen. The question, “What would have happened if I’d chosen law?” lingers in the back of your mind while you’re studying psychology.
This isn’t a benefit—it’s a burden.
What Makes the “Wrong Choice” Seem So Big?
Partly family, partly cultural narrative. The phrase “Choose the job you’ll do for the rest of your life” implies that the decision is irreversible. Yet research suggests the opposite.
Jeffrey Arnett, in defining the concept of “emerging adulthood” (2000), notes that the 18–29 age range specifically involves periods of identity exploration, and that multiple career changes are the norm. Long-term studies repeatedly show that choosing a major does not determine the course of one’s life.
But knowing this fact doesn’t immediately alleviate anxiety. Because anxiety is physical, not cognitive. When the nervous system perceives a threat, logic goes out the window.
What Helps?
What makes decision-making easier isn’t more information, but less noise. A few observations:
- Instead of asking, “Which major should I choose?” asking, “What questions intrigue me?” is a more productive starting point.
- Trying to prove the “correctness” of a decision often delays the decision rather than making it easier.
- Distinguishing your own desires from family expectations is a step that comes before making a choice. Decisions made without making this distinction are often questioned within the first year.
Daniel Kahneman’s System 1/System 2 distinction is useful here (Thinking, Fast and Slow, 2011): making room for slow thinking—that is, letting the decision rest in the unconscious for a certain period—often brings intuitive clarity.
“Being yourself takes courage; shaping yourself according to someone else’s expectations is the most common form of helplessness.” > Rollo May, Man’s Search for Himself, 1953
Cevvela’s Perspective
- Choosing a college is a question of identity, not a career choice.
- An abundance of options doesn’t make the decision easier; you need to narrow down your field before making a choice.
- What usually makes the decision difficult is not the question “which major?” but “for whom am I choosing this?”
- Indecision is not a pathology; confusion is part of identity development (Erikson, 1968).
- Coaching to accompany this process is different from making a decision: it’s about creating space for clarity.
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