Decisions: SelectinG a College Major
It’s one of the most nerve-wrecking and frustrating times in life. It can make you feel very uniformed and confused. Some people experience intense stress from this decision. No we aren’t talking about which picture to use on Facebook. We are talking about selecting a major in college. Selecting a major is more than finding a good job that pays you well. It also involves learning more about who you are as an individual, and what will make you happy in life. Following is some information that can help you during this stressful time.
What is a college major?
A major refers to a subject area that a student can specialize in. When you finish taking the courses in your subject area, it is assumed that you have attained a level of knowledge required to be employed in the area.
When should I declare a major?
If you are an AA degree seeking student your first year (Freshman Year) in college is normally spent taking general education classes. It is normally by your Sophomore year that you should declare a major. If you’re an AS or AAS degree-seeking student you should select a major at the start because you degree-specific courses will start right away.
Steps to Take:
It is imperative that you take some time to self-examine your interest, personality, skills, and values. What types of majors appeal to those varying areas of who you are as an individual? If you are not sure, start the process at lscc.myplan.com. Please visit the Career Development Services website (www.lssc.edu/academics/cds) for more information and instructions for taking this assessment. Meet with academic advisors to get information about the majors that are of interest to you. Then meet with career advisors to find out what career options that major can lead you into.
Do your best to only take classes that are of interest to you. Doing this before you select your major, can assist you in identifying what areas you might really enjoy.
Take the time to have a reality check. Honesty in the beginning will prevent discouragement in the end. Your ideal majors may sound good, but do they really align with who you are? Do you want to major in something that requires a 4-year degree, but you really only want to be in school for 2 years? Do you want to major in engineering, but you really dislike everything that is Math related? It is of utmost importance that you are honest with yourself and where you really want to go.
After you’ve done the aforementioned steps, it is now time for you to make a decision. You are now prepared to intelligently decide on a major that will work for you. Don’t be afraid. Use the tools, select your major, and enjoy becoming proficient in your new area.
Resources:
www.collegeboard.com/student/csearch/majors_careers/468.html
www.quintcareers.com/choosing_major.html
http://homeworktips.about.com/od/preparingforcollege/a/majors.htm
Selecting a Major (Students).pdf
Questions? Contact Career Development Services at (352) 323-3603 or careers@lscc.edu.