Graduates are often asked why they chose their degree, and the question tends to catch people off guard because the honest answer happened years ago, at seventeen or eighteen, for reasons that may now feel thin. The good news is that the interviewer is not marking the decision you made then. They are listening to how you explain it now, and whether you can connect what you studied to the job in front of you.
This article answers the questions candidates most often have about this one interview question. It focuses on the course choice itself; for the wider “tell me about your education” question, a short summary of qualifications, grades and relevant modules is usually enough.
Is this really a common interview question?
Yes, especially for graduate and entry-level roles. It appears on the standard practice lists that careers services give students: the University of Memphis asks “Why did you choose your college/major?”, NJIT asks “Why did you choose your major?”, and Montana Tech asks “Why did you choose the major you did?” alongside “Why did you choose to attend your college or university?” Prepare for both versions, the subject and the institution.
What is the interviewer actually trying to find out?
Usually one of four things:
- How you make decisions. Did you weigh options, or drift?
- What interests you. Your subject choice is early evidence of what you enjoy.
- Whether your degree and this job connect. If they clearly do, the interviewer wants to hear you make the link. If they do not, they want to hear why you are applying anyway.
- How you talk about a decision that did not go perfectly. If you changed course or now work in a different field, can you explain that calmly?
What does a strong answer look like?
Three parts, in about a minute:
- The original reason, stated honestly and briefly.
- What the course turned out to give you: a module, project, method or skill you value now.
- The link to this role.
Illustrative, for a graduate applying for a junior analyst role with an economics degree: “I chose economics because I’d enjoyed it at school and I liked that it explained things I saw in the news. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d enjoy the econometrics modules. My dissertation used regional employment data, and I spent most of my final year cleaning and modelling it. That’s the part I want to do more of, which is why this analyst role appeals to me.”
Notice that the original reason takes one sentence. The rest of the answer is about what the candidate can do now.
What if my degree has nothing to do with the job?
You are in good company. In a 2013 analysis of US census data, economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that “a little more than a quarter” of college graduates in the labour force worked in a job directly related to their major. On the employer side, the University of Edinburgh Careers Service states that as many as 60% of graduate opportunities will accept graduates of any discipline.
So an unrelated degree is normal, and many employers expect it. What they want is a sensible bridge. Choose one or two things your course trained you to do that the job also needs:
| Degree | Applying for | A bridge worth describing |
|---|---|---|
| History | Policy or research assistant | Weighing conflicting sources and writing clear conclusions under a word limit |
| Biology | Sales in medical devices | Explaining technical material to people without the background |
| English literature | Marketing or communications | Close reading, writing for different audiences, meeting deadlines |
| Physics | Data or finance | Modelling, statistics and comfort with large numbers |
| Architecture | Project coordination | Working to briefs, managing revisions and presenting to clients |
Then add one sentence on why you are moving towards this field, ideally with something you have already done about it, such as an internship, a course or a project.
What if my parents chose my degree for me?
This is common, and in many families it is simply how decisions are made. You do not need to hide it, but do not make it the whole answer either, because it can sound as if you had no say in your own direction. A balanced version:
Illustrative: “Engineering was very much my family’s suggestion, and I went along with it. By the second year I’d found the part I genuinely liked, which was the project management side of our group design work. That’s what led me to apply for project coordination roles.”
The point is ownership: whatever the starting point, show what you chose to do with it.
What if I did not get into my first-choice course?
You do not have to volunteer it. If it comes up, or if it explains an odd combination on your CV, keep it short and factual, then talk about what you gained from the course you did take. Avoid sounding as if you are still disappointed.
What if I switched courses or did not finish?
Explain the change as a decision, not a failure: what you learned about yourself from the first course and why the second suited you better. If you did not finish, state that clearly and describe what you did next. Make sure your CV shows the same dates and titles you describe; inconsistencies there cause more trouble than the change itself.
Do I need to explain why I chose my university as well?
Sometimes. Some interviewers ask about the institution separately, as the Montana Tech list does. Practical reasons such as location, cost, a scholarship, a specific programme or an industry placement year are all reasonable. If the course had a feature that matters for this job, such as a placement, accreditation or a well-known module, mention it.
Should I mention grades in this answer?
Only if they help the point you are making, such as a high mark in the module that matters most for the job. Grades are a separate question, and interviewers who want them will ask.
I studied abroad. Does that change anything?
Interviewers may not know your university or how your course was structured, so add a line of context: the length of the programme, whether it included a placement, or what the main subjects were. Only make comparisons with other systems that you can support.
If you have also been through a student visa interview, you may recognise the question. The University of Sheffield’s guidance on credibility interviews for international students suggests reviewing why you chose your course over alternatives and how its knowledge and skills relate to your career plans. The same preparation is useful for job interviews, with the emphasis shifted towards the employer’s needs.
What should I avoid saying?
- “It was the only thing I got into.” Possibly true, but it stops the conversation with nothing positive.
- “I didn’t really know what else to do.” Fine as a starting point if you follow it with what you found there.
- Criticising the course or lecturers. It sounds like blame.
- A long account of the decision. One sentence on the past; the rest on the present.
- Claims your CV does not support. If you say you loved the data modules, expect a follow-up question about one.
How should my CV support this answer?
List the two or three modules, projects or a dissertation topic that relate most closely to the job under your degree, so the interviewer can see the link before you make it. The student resume builder and fresh graduate resume builder pages show where to place relevant coursework when work experience is limited.
How long should the answer be?
Around 45 to 75 seconds. If the interviewer wants more, they will ask about a module or project, which is a good sign that your answer has given them something to explore.
Sources
- Sample Interview Questions, The University of Memphis Career Services
- Questions Asked by Employers, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Career Development Services
- Questions Asked by Employers, Montana Tech Career Services
- Do Big Cities Help College Graduates Find Better Jobs?, Liberty Street Economics, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
- What next with your degree?, The University of Edinburgh Careers Service
- Typical Credibility Interview Questions, University of Sheffield