Decisions, Decisions . . .

While choosing a major can feel like a very big deal, most students are surprised to find out that the impact of this decision on career options is relatively minimal. What's up with that?

First, although a few career fields require specific areas of study (e.g., teaching and medicine) many occupations are open to graduates from a variety of majors. In many cases, employers are more concerned about grades, personality traits, and skills acquired through internships and extracurricular activities than your choice of major. Second, although the first jobs of many graduates are often related to their majors, their career paths can diverge widely from the original course. In fact, the Department of Labor reports that the average person shifts career direction three times and changes jobs 8 - 10 times in their lifetime. So lighten up: it's important to recognize that your choice of major will not define where you'll be working for the rest of your life, but will lay the groundwork for the direction you will go.

Some Ideas to Consider:

1. Choose a major in a subject (or subjects) you enjoy and do well in. This will make it easier to maintain a high G.P.A, which is an important selection criterion to many employers.
2. If you want to go to graduate school, consider a major that will provide a good background for the area of study you are considering. For example, chemistry is a good foundation for graduate study in Pharmacy.
3. If you've discovered your calling in life, consider a major that will allow you to fulfill your needs in this area. For example, if you feel passionate about building sensitivity to cultural differences you might major in Russian Area or East Asian Studies, or Sociology.
4. Another option is to design a major that will help you develop skills for an occupational field. As an example, designing a major with coursework in Art and Psychology would be helpful in pursuing skills for Art Therapy.

But First . . .

Find out more about yourself - take a career assessment to learn more about your interests, abilities, values and personality.

The most important thing to remember is that you aren't alone AND you don't have to go it alone - contact WittPath Career Services to talk with the staff about your options and how to go about researching.

More Tips on Making Career Decisions