Be sure to at least give some consideration to the realities of the labor market. Although nearly all of us would prefer to pursue our passions vocationally, this turns out to be impossible in many, if not the majority, of cases. Do not exclusively focus on yourself, but also consider larger societal trends: what services are likely to be in great demand in the near future? What products are likely to rise in popularity? These considerations are undoubtedly important for your analysis.
Career tests, also known as aptitude tests, ask you basic questions about your strengths and weaknesses and seek to get an overall view of your personality. These tests then tabulate this information to list several potential careers and/or majors that could be good options for you. While you should take these results with a grain of salt—after all, you know yourself better than some test does—the results can provide a wonderful jumping-off point and give you some choices to consider. They are also good indicators of the areas in which you’ll have the most successes career-wise and feel the most personally satisfied.
Likewise, college counselors are a great way to talk with someone in the know. A college counselor will know your past grades and will be able to help you find and apply to the schools that are the most likely to accept you. Your counselor can also explain what is required of different majors and for different career paths, such as how much schooling you’ll ultimately need. You can also discuss possible financial aid options and any special concerns you may have, such as seeking accommodation for a learning or other disability. Remember that your quest to obtain a high quality post-secondary education involves many things which are totally new and potentially intimidating: it’s important to take advantage of every resource available, and guidance counselors are excellent resources for shedding light on otherwise unfamiliar territory.