some_controller.rb

def some_view
  @majors = HobsonsMajor.where(id: [@athlete.major1, @athlete.major2, @athlete.major3])
end

some_view.html.erb

<% @majors.each_with_index do |major, index| %>
  <div class="span8">
    <label>Potential Major #<%= index+1 %></label>
    <%= select_tag :first_major_categories, 
      options_for_select(get_major_categories, major.hobsons_category_id), class: "span8 major_category" %>
    <%= a.select "major#{index+1}".to_sym, 
      options_for_select(get_majors_by_category_id(major.hobsons_category_id), major.id), 
      { prompt: "--" }, class: "span8" 
    %>
  </div>
<% end %>