History is a huge topic. You can study the history of almost any single thing you could possibly imagine - it could be people, places, or things. All of the nouns! If you’re interested in learning about the background of why things are the way they are, you’re probably interested in history. If you want to be a history major, or at least think you could possibly want to be a history major, you’re in the right place.
The Best Extracurriculars for History Majors
History is one of the most popular humanities majors at American colleges and universities, and many colleges have subcategories under the ‘history’ umbrella focused on specific regions, cultures, countries, or communities. If you’re thinking about studying history in college, it’s important to go into the application knowing that it can be tough to stand out as a prospective student even if you have exceptional grades. Because there aren’t a ton of extracurriculars specific to potential history majors, and more high schools don’t offer a wide array of options for history electives, making a splash with your application takes some strategy.
History Major Strategy: How to Stand Out
History is one of the most popular majors at colleges and universities across the United States. Students love to study history, and we get it — we love history too — but it’s also one of the most commonly listed “intended” majors listed on applications. This poses a bit of a problem because when colleges consider your application, they are looking at you within the context of what you want to study. Each department can handle only so many students, so they have to think about what you want to major in when they consider you. Colleges are flooded with prospective history majors and have to find the best of the best to let in.
Best Colleges for Asian History
If you’re thinking of studying Asia in college, you’re going to need to narrow it down a little. Saying that Asia is a big place is an understatement. Picking a geographic or thematic concentration helps to narrow it down, directing your attention and bringing passions into focus. You’re probably also going to need to study a language associated with your area of focus, so you should keep that in mind when making your decision.
Best Colleges for African History
Africa is a continent full of thousands of cultures and languages, which is a lot to cover in one major. If you’re considering studying Africa in college, you’ll want to look for programs that offer opportunities to niche down and zoom in, whether it be through a geographic focus, an issues-based focus, or another lens. We also recommend looking for programs that prioritize language studies and study abroad, and both of those are game changers when it comes to studying a place from afar — especially one you may have never visited!
Best Colleges for European History
Europe is big. That may be an absurd sentence, but it’s worth stating twice: Europe is big. If you are looking to study Europe in college, there’s a lot of literal ground to cover. As you look into major programs, you’ll see that some programs focus on a particular geographic area, others gravitate around particular social issues, while still others are rooted firmly in language.
Best Colleges for American History
How to Build Out Your Extracurriculars for History
Four score and seven years ago, you weren’t even born yet. Your parents weren’t even born. Probably not even your grandparents either. But your love of history transcends the worldly plane! Four score and seven years ago might contain historical moments you’re passionately interested in: Jesse Owens won 4 medals at the Berlin Olympics, the Great Depression continued to ravage the United States, and fascism started to grab ahold of Europe. But you’re struggling with how to turn those interests into tangible extracurriculars to prove that you’re passionate. No worries, we got you.