原文：Picking a major was one of the most difficult, yet exciting, decisions I had to make in college. As aninternational student, I found this process particularly unfamiliar since the major system in China is completely different. At home,in the process of picking the schools you apply to, you essentially have already picked a major. Most U.S. colleges don't require you to declare a major until sophomore year. The great thing about this is that it gives you some time to explore different academic subjects before you make a decision. It can be a difficult decision to make, and it's a big one that is likely to shape your future. Below are some tips that might help you navigate through the major system in U.S. colleges.
譯文：在美國上大學，選專業(yè)是一件既困難又令人激動的一件事，選課的過程跟中國專業(yè)體系和選擇方式完全不一樣。在中國，你在填寫學校志愿的時候就相當于已經選擇好了專業(yè)，而美國的大學并不要求你馬上做出決定，你可以等到大二學年的時候再選定專業(yè)。這樣做的好處就是在做出決定之前，你有時間和機會嘗試不同的領域專業(yè)，選出最合適的。而選專業(yè)這個重大而有困難的決定明顯會對你未來造成影響。下面幾條建議或許可以幫助你了解美國大學的專業(yè)體系，更好地做出選擇。
原文：Spend your freshman year researching subjects that interest you: Take as many courses in as many different departments as you can. This is not just a great way to fulfill your elective requirements, but also a great way to find out which major will be best suited for you.
You might already know what you want to major in, but don't be set on that decision until you know about all your options. I was very sure that I would become an economics major, but ended up in the math department. I absolutely loved the way math was taught at Colorado College. It included small classes, many interactions between students and professors, ample research opportunities and I got along famously with everyone in the department.
I never would have made the decision to become a math major without taking calculus out of curiosity during my freshman year. Do the same thing, and you might be pleasantly surprised at what you are good at, or what gets you excited.
譯文：大學第一年多研究一些自己感興趣的學科：盡量選擇多一點課程，且要從不同的類型考慮出發(fā)。這不僅可以滿足你選修課的需求，也能讓你找出最適合自己的專業(yè)。
或許你已經大概知道自己想選哪個專業(yè)了，但別急著先定下來，等你了解了你選擇的所有課程之后再做決定也不遲。我之前也非常確定自己會選擇經濟類專業(yè)，但最后卻選了數(shù)學。我非常喜歡科羅拉多學院的數(shù)學教學方式。那是小班授課，學生和教授會有很多的互動，在那里我得到了很多研究機會，同時與班上的同學相處也非常融洽。
如果不是大一的時候我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己對微積分非常感興趣，我最后也不會選擇數(shù)學專業(yè)。你也可以這樣試試，或許你會發(fā)現(xiàn)自己喜歡什么、擅長哪一科目，或者哪個專業(yè)更讓你興奮。
原文：Talk to your academic adviser, professors and upperclassmen: Academic staff members have a good understanding of the majors offered by the school, the requirements for each major and of you as a student. They will be able to give you some valuable information that might not be clear to you from the departments' website or from a class syllabus.
For example, I found out from talking to some professors that I could do a joint thesis that fulfilled both an economics and a math major. I learned from talking to an upperclassman that many economics students spend a semester at a university in Sweden that had a joint program with our school.
譯文：跟你的學業(yè)顧問、教授或者高年級的學生聊一聊：一般，學術人員對學校所開的專業(yè)都非常了解，他們知道每個專業(yè)有什么要求，而你的條件又是否合適該專業(yè)。或許他們能給你一些非常有價值的信息與建議，解答你有所疑惑的地方，而這些你也可以去學院網(wǎng)站或班級課程大綱上了解。
比如，我跟一些教授聊過之后我發(fā)現(xiàn)我可以選一個經濟學與數(shù)學相結合的專業(yè)。而后來我跟一個高年級學生聊天才知道我們學校許多經濟系的學生會花一個學期的時間去瑞典的一個大學，那里跟我們學校有共同聯(lián)合項目可選。
原文：Map out which classes you will need to take and when: The sooner you have a plan to fulfill your major, the better. This will help you avoid any surprises – you don't want to show up in a class only to be turned away because you haven't taken a prerequisite course.
Additionally, when you have a roadmap of classes, you can build in additional time to take other classes not in your major, have a minor or a second major or study abroad.
譯文：標記好哪些課程是你要去的，什么時候要去：越快制定一個專業(yè)計劃越好，這樣可以幫你避免意外，如果你不想去上哪個課了，直接不去就是了，因為你沒有選它作預休課程。
另外，如果你有一張課程計劃表，那么在你有時間的時候就可以去參加一些非本專業(yè)的課，這樣你就能有個第二專業(yè)了。
原文：Another International Student Counsel post recommended picking a major that you love, not one that you think will get you a high-paying job. I could not agree more.
Remember that even though this is an important decision that might affect the outcome of your life, many people end up with a job outside of their majors. College is time to learn the skills that will prepare you for life, such as thinking critically, writing a research paper, giving a presentation and making lifelong connections. Almost any major will teach you these things as long as you are willing and open to learning.
If you really absolutely need to major in biology and become a doctor like your mom had hoped, then you still have the option of having a minor or another major in a subject you enjoy. Good luck!
譯文：留學生顧問會建議學生選擇自己喜歡的專業(yè)而不是選一個你認為以后可能會拿高薪的專業(yè)，我非常贊同這一點。
記住，即便選擇專業(yè)是個非常重要的決定，可能會影響你以后的收入，但事實上許多人后來會從事自己專業(yè)以外的工作。大學是你學會生活技能，為以后生活做準備的一個階段，比如批判思維、寫研究論文、做報告這些都終身受用。幾乎所有的專業(yè)都會教會你這些事情，前提是你愿意敞開學。
如果你媽媽想讓你成為一名醫(yī)生，你一定得學生物學專業(yè)，但你仍然可以選擇一個自己喜歡的第二專業(yè)。
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