Sherab ji
You are on the cusp of adulthood and will change your mind about your future more than once. We all do. So keep my recommendations in the context of an older person who is also a college professor. Your question is very important. You also need to understand yourself and do some research before making a final choice. How is that for corny?
Your first step is to do some research related to colleges that offer religion majors -- and some do not offer religious studies at the undergraduate level. Go to the web-sites of these universities and really try to understand how their programs work, whether they have financial aid if you need it, and their entrance requirements.
The few that I located all have departments of Sikh Studies -- and are in the US -- which is where you now live. University of California - Santa Barbara; University of California - Riverside (big Sikh community nearby); Columbia University; Sweet Briar College, and Hofstra University. Columbia is in New York City. Hofstra is in upper New York State.
Here are some questions you want to ask yourself. Are you the kind of student who thrives in a small intimate and student-friendly environment where professors take a personal interest in students? If you say yes to this, then avoid the larger universities and think seriously about Sweet Briar or Hofstra. Both have reputations for academic excellence, and both have very positive climates for young people. If you think a larger university will work for you then look into the other three.
You should also consider majoring in something other than religious studies for your first degree - the bachelor's degree. Think about your need to earn a living. Unless you plan to enter the ministry, employment opportunities will be very limited with a degree in religious studies. And Sikhs don't have a ministry -- so that path is kind of a dead end.
You can major in a field that prepares you for a profession and take a minor at the same time in religion. For example, major in media studies, communication, almost anything where you will be able to find employment at the end of 4 years. But with the minor in religion, you will still feel prepared to apply to graduate school and get an advanced degree in religious studies -- probably focusing on Sikhism because that is what you seem to be interested in.
This is getting long -- but in the end every person needs to answer some key questions before picking a career and selecting a course of study. What do I really find interesting? What talents do I have and what talents are needed? What are my limitations? If you think science is interesting but are really bad at mathematics, then it is obvious - a major in physics will make you miserable. If you are interested in science, have a lot of personal discipline and are good at math, then a major in physics makes sense. Apply this same reasoning to yourself. You are really interested in religion. Do you have the skills needed to survive a course of study in religion? Do you know what those required skills and abilities are? Can you make the personal sacrifices you will need to make?
Sorry for the lecture.
