How to Choose a Major

Concerned about choosing a major? Unsure of your career interests? If so, you're not alone. The American Council on Education says that of the freshmen entering college last fall 20 percent were undecided about their major. The same survey indicates that 65 percent of the freshmen who had declared a major changed their minds at least once during their college career.

So how do you approach the important college decision if you don't know what you want to study or what career you're preparing for?

Before you start, relax! It's smart to take plenty of time to explore your options. In fact, students who come to college with an open mind are often more satisfied with their eventual choice of a major than those who decide early. However, it's also smart to do some research, and we hope this page will get you started.

At Utica College, we are experienced in helping people find the right path, and we would like to put our experience to work for you. We suggest you start with a three-step process:

• Take a thoughtful look at yourself.
• Explore the job market to determine where the best employment opportunities will be.
• Carefully examine your college options to see what resources various institutions will offer you during these important years.

Step #1: Self Assessment

No matter where you stand in your class, we're sure that you have skills, abilities, and interests that distinguish you from your peers. It's a good idea to spend some time identifying your unique abilities, because most of us have difficulty pinpointing our strengths. For years your school has graded you in academic subjects, but what marks do you give yourself in the equally important areas such as creativity, team-building, and problem solving?

Although you'll need some quiet time to think about yourself, the self-assessment process doesn't have to be a solitary pursuit. Don't lock yourself in your room and wait for enlightenment to occur. Self-assessment occurs in the social context of your school, family, and friends. It can be fun to discuss your interests, skills, and values with your friends and family and discover how they see you. The following questions may help get you started:

• What do you enjoy doing? (We don't mean school subjects. Think about how you choose to spend your free time.)
• What is most important to you? (Examples: social activities, academics, religious activities, etc.)
• What have you enjoyed about the activities you've chosen or the jobs you've had?
• What do you identify as your personal strengths?
• What do others see as your strengths? What skills do family, friends, and teachers compliment you on?
• Where would you like to live when you're finished with school?
• How strong is your commitment to your education?
• How many years do you plan to stay in school?
• What are your salary expectations?

Early Greek philosophers said, "Know thyself," and philosophers today agree that wisdom begins with self-understanding. If there were quick and easy answers, philosophers and psychologists wouldn't spend so much time talking about self-knowledge. So give yourself time, and keep at it until the pieces slowly come together and you begin to get a clear picture of your interests, abilities, and goals.

Want to learn more about conducting a self assessment or selecting the right major for you? Then check out the Utica College Self-Assessment Web page.

Step #2: Look at the Job Market

Your next step is to examine the occupational projections which predict where the best career opportunities will be. The good news is that all demographic studies indicate a strong job market for the first decade of the century as the "babyboomers" start to retire. But it still pays to look ahead, and career lists may suggest job opportunities that you've never considered.

Industry analysts predict that the fastest growth will occur in the health care and computer industries. You may immediately think, "I don't want to be a doctor or a computer programmer." But these fields are large umbrellas that include hundreds of jobs, many of which you may never have heard of. For example, at Utica College you can major in economic crime investigation and learn to detect computer and accounting fraud, a rapidly-emerging field with outstanding opportunities.

Or perhaps under the health care umbrella you could consider nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or therapeutic recreation, all hot careers for the future and all taught here at Utica College. Our major in psychology-child life prepares specialists to assist children and their families in coping with hospitalization ? another health care field, but one you may not be familiar with. There are many other appealing careers which you probably haven't yet encountered, and it pays to research various fields until you find one that suits your personal skills and seems to offer exactly what you want.

In her book, 100 Best Careers for the 21st Century, Shelley Field includes the following:

• Nursing (RN)
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Recreation Therapy
• Computer Programming
• Journalism
• Public Relations
• Accounting
• Child Care
• Teaching (Preschool/Elementary/High School)
• Correction Officer
• Business Manager

Utica College offers majors that will help you pursue a career in any of these areas.

Field's book also includes careers that require the strong liberal arts foundation you will receive at a college like UC, but will require graduate work after college:

• Lawyer
• Physician
• Podiatrist
• Veterinarian

You can prepare for these careers at most liberal arts colleges, but there are benefits to attending a comprehensive college like Utica College, where coursework focuses on professional as well as liberal studies.

You'll also want to inquire about the pre-professional advising programs available for students in pre-law and pre-med at the colleges you investigate. At Utica College you will meet with pre-law and pre-med advisers during Freshman Orientation before you take your first class. You can be certain that you'll have the best advice to build a successful résumé for graduate admission.

There are dozens of career lists and projections on the Internet, but one of the best is The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics available at: http://www.bls.gov/oco.

Step #3: The College Search

By this time you've done a self assessment and taken a good look at career lists and projections. You're probably now ready to dig into the extensive pile of college publications you're receiving. How many of the majors you've considered does each college offer? Remember that even if you're fairly certain what you plan to study, 65 percent of freshmen change their major at least once. You'll want a college that offers many majors you could consider. You can then change your mind without changing your college.

Your college should offer an array of services to assist you in making important academic and career decisions. Compare services at the other colleges you're considering to those you'll find here at Utica College:

• A broad curriculum with 30 majors in both liberal arts and career programs, many in the "hottest" occupations, and a strong core curriculum that provides a solid foundation in both analytic and communication skills ? crucial to success in whatever field you choose.
• Special academic advisors with the appropriate training to assist "undeclared" students in sorting through their many options.
• Small classes (at UC the typical class has fewer than 20 students) and dedicated, caring faculty members who will know you individually, offer you their ideas about your unique talents, and suggest alumni for you to speak with.
• Skill Identification Testing and interest inventories to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.
• A one-credit First-Year Seminar class to provide a support system of peers and expert advice as you make the transition to college.
• Opportunities to participate in internships so you can "try out" career choices early in your college career.
• A wide variety of clubs and activities that allow you to develop your interests and explore possible career paths. UC's radio station, campus newspaper, and volunteer opportunities in area schools are just a few examples of the résumé- building activities our students pursue.
• A diverse student body with widely divergent backgrounds and career goals. You'll learn a lot from your peers.
• An excellent Career Services center with services to assist you throughout your college career.

We could continue, but we have probably made our point: at Utica College each student receives individual attention and we take your success personally. Make certain all the colleges you consider will focus on your needs and get you where you want to go.

Your journey to a satisfying career choice is underway. The next year will be filled with new discoveries about yourself and the world around you. At Utica College we wish you the best of luck and urge you to be patient and flexible as you explore the many opportunities available to you. We hope you will visit our campus, and allow us to assist you personally. Please feel free to contact us at the numbers below if we can help you as your search continues.

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