These days, nearly everyone goes to college. Whether it is a community college, online school, or a prestigious four-year program, nearly everyone goes. Some say they want to, some say their parents forced them to, but mostly, it is because everyone wants to be making six figures one day. Statistically speaking, people that hold a college degree have a higher chance of hitting that six-figure mark than those who don’t. But...not all jobs have six figure salaries...

At some point in your college career, you’ll be forced to declare your major and work towards a Bachelor’s degree in that field, eventually graduating and moving into the real world. This is the point where huge mistakes are made. Many people pick their major based on how much money they’ll potentially be making after college. That is the wrong way to go, my friend.

You should pick a major not based on potential monetary gain later on, but instead based on what would make you happy in the long run. Cheesy and cliché, I know. But it’s true! Who wants to work a nine to five job, five days a week, which they hate waking up for in the morning? No one. Now, although that person may be bringing in the money by the thousands, they’re miserable. What’s the alternative? Picking something you genuinely enjoy. This may sound like “settling” for a lower pay grade, but it’s not! Conversely, going with a major just to make money after college is settling.

Ultimately, you can’t put a price on happiness. And you sure don’t want to feel the financial pressure to pick a major that you have no interest in. So, just block all of the money nonsense out. Although the idea of the real world and having to financially support yourself, not to mention pay off all those student loans, may sound absolutely terrifying, don’t let that intimidate you into being unhappy for the rest of your adult life. So, decide to be whatever you want to be, regardless of how much you’ll be making 10 years down the road.