Staying the Course on the Academic Freeway Choosing A Major

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Staying the Course on theAcademic
FreewayChoosing A Major

• HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE
• Brandon Career Resource Center

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MYTHS about choosing a major

• Most students enter college decided on a major
• Theres something wrong with being undecided
• Choosing one major means giving up all others
• Only one major will allow me to reach my goal
• A major requires you to follow a specific career
  path

Provided by College Board
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FACTS about choosing a major

• FACT
• 1 out of 5 students change majors from admission
  to 1st day
• 3 out of 4 students change majors at least twice
  before they graduate
• 3 out of 4 students express uncertainty about
  their major
• less than 50 of graduating seniors report
  accepting a job directly related to their major

Provided by College Board
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Road Blocks
Whats stopping you from making a decision?
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Road Blocks

• EXTERNAL FACTORS
• Unrelatedness of Majors and Careers
• Most majors and careers develop independently of
  each other.
• Lack of Information
• Not having enough information can make you
  uncomfortable about a decision. Start by visiting
  your Career Resource Center.
• Too Much Information
• Its easy to become overwhelmed by all of the
  information you can get from school and the
  internet. Start by organizing the good stuff and
  tossing the bad.

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Road Blocks

• INTERNAL FACTORS
• Lack of Self-Confidence
• Fear/Anxiety
• Conflicting Values
• Too Many Interests
• Conflict With/Pleasing Others

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STEPS TO A MAJOR DECISION
STEP 4 TAKE ACTION
STEP 3 EVALUATE AND MAKE YOUR
MAJOR DECISION
STEP 2 GATHER INFORMATION
AND EXPLORE OPTIONS
STEP 1 ASSESS YOURSELF
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STEP 1 ASSESS YOURSELF
Personality
Values
Skills
Interests
Knowledge Learning

• What do you truly enjoy?
• What is the coolest job you can imagine?
• What are you good at?
• What is important to you?

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STEP 2 GATHER INFORMATION AND EXPLORE OPTIONS
Career Trends
Information Search
Information Interviews
Job Shadowing
Gaining Experience

• What majors are available?
• Do you need to review additional information?
• Where do you find such information?

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STEP 3 EVALUATE AND MAKE YOUR MAJOR DECISION
Career Objectives
Personal Objectives
Lifelong Learning
Goal Setting

• What have you learned in your research?
• What are the pros and cons?
• Have you asked an advisor for help?

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STEP 4 TAKE ACTION
Declare Major
Degree Check
Create a Plan

• Have you considered internships?
• What about sample courses in a major?
• Have you talked to professionals in that field?

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EXPLORING MAJORS
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
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IMPLEMENTING YOUR DECISION
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EXPLORING SELF
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MAKING A DECISION
SKILLS
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EXPLORING OCCUPATIONS
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Education is More than a Major

• What skills are you learning?
• How can you sell your abilities to a
  future employer?

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Now you have...

• COMMUNICATION SKILLS
• Verbally communicate ideas and concepts
• Listen objectively
• Write
• Persuade others
• Bargain or discuss a view toward reaching
  agreement

• HUMAN RELATIONS SKILLS
• Interact cooperatively with peers, subordinates
  and superiors
• Understand group interaction
• Instruct or train individuals
• Build rapport
• Counsel
• Empathize

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Now you have...

• PLANNING SKILLS
• Assess needs
• Identify viable alternatives
• Evaluate outcomes
• Accommodate demands
• Establishing priorities
• Set goals

• LEADERSHIP SKILLS
• Motivate a group
• Delegate tasks and responsibilities
• Sustain group cohesion
• Earn respect
• Make decisions
• Handle decisions

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Now you have...

• PERSONAL SKILLS
• Discipline self
• Assume responsibility
• Adapt to change
• Take initiative
• Work independently
• Demonstrate commitment

• SOCIAL SKILLS
• Relate easily in situations which are social in
  nature
• Interact effectively with a broad cross-section
  of people
• Dress presentably for a wide variety of situations

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What to do with a major in...

• What if I graduate and I dont like my job?
• Where do I even begin looking for jobs after
  graduation?

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• English Majors Find Jobs In

---Creative writing, journalism, and freelance
---Public, private schools, libraries, and
colleges ---Magazines/books/newspapers,
editorial, AD/P.R. ---Management,
Sales/Marketing, and HR ---Store
Management, Buyer, and Sales
Writing/Editing Education Publishing Bus
iness Retail
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• Foreign Lang. Majors Find Jobs In

---Diplomacy, Civil service, Customs, Foreign
service ---Advertising, Publishing/Editing, PR,
Broadcasting ---Manufacturing, Ops Mgmt,
Consulting ---Import/export, Interpretation
Airline/Travel, Translation, Mgmt. ---Escort/guid
e, Judiciary, Consecutive, Freelance
Government Arts, Media, Entertainment
Industry/Commerce Travel and Tourism
Translations/Interpretation
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• Marketing Majors Find Jobs In

---Industrial, consumer products, financial
services, advertising ---Customer Service,
Mgmt. ---Government orgs, hospitals, large
corps, educational institutions ---Commercia
l lending, branch mgmt., operation ---Market
research firms, mgmt consulting
Sales Customer Relations Purchasing Bank
ing Brand Management
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• Sociology/Psych. Majors Find Jobs In

---Private foundations, community agencies,
hospitals, wellness centers ---Court systems,
law agencies, correctional institutions ---Any
federal department ---Waste mgmt, health
agencies, Govt agencies, environmental
advocacy ---Data Analysis, Demography, Info.
Sourcing, Marketing Research
Human Services Criminal Justice
Government Environment/Society Social
Science Research
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• Allied Health Majors Find Jobs In

---Acute care, Neuro-rehab, clinical
practice ---Physical, psychosocial,
vocational ---Private dental offices,
hospitals, dental diagnosis ---M.R. Admin,
Quality Improvement, Research, Health Info
Mgmt. ---Microbiology, Molecular Biology,
Immunology, Hematology
Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy
Dental Hygiene Health Info Mgmt Medical
Technology
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Take the First Step

• Define your motivation and remove road blocks.
• Assess yourself. Find out who you really are and
  what suites you best.
• Gather as much information as you can. Do your
  research.
• Evaluate your options. Make a decision.
• Take action.

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Stay On Track

• Be Patient
• Expect change
• Make room for life
• Develop skills and contacts
• Ask directions or seek help
• Believe in yourself

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Need Help?

• Make an appointment with a Career Counselor
• Take interest/career inventories or assessments
• Start a portfolio containing all your research
• Practice interviews.

We're here for you.
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Brandon Career Resource Center www.hccfl.edu BSSB
210 [phone]