Exploring Colleges and Majors

Getting the education you want will, in part, depend on choosing a college and major that fit your interests and skills. At various points in your eportfolio you will be asked to explain why you are choosing a particular college and/or major, and why it is the right fit for you.

In thinking about majors, it may help to remember that majoring in a particular field does not limit you to a career in that field. However, it is important that you choose a college (and eventually a major) that you really enjoy and can be excited about studying for the next three and a half years. If you study something you love, you can more easily work hard on it, do well in it, learn analytic, communication, and technical skills (as well as useful information), and enjoy the process along the way.

Even if you are fairly sure of which college you wish to enter and what major you wish to pursue, it's a good idea to do some further research. Below are some techniques and tips to help you think about colleges or majors that match your interests and skills. After working through a couple of the prompts below, you may want to write a paragraph on why you think a particular major may be the right one for you and add it to your journal or include it on your Mid-year Adjustments and Plans page.

1. I feel (certain, somewhat certain, not certain) about my present choice of major, and___________________________________ are the main factors in my choosing this major.

2.The special opportunities associated with the major I am considering (internships, research, volunteer work, creative work in the arts, learning languages, computer or technical skills, communication skills, leadership opportunities, etc) include the following: _____________________________.

3. If you haven’t already done so, read the descriptions of the colleges and majors you are most interested in by looking up the information in the Bulletin of Information. Build a sample schedule, and see how you like the look of it.

4. Look up the colleges' and departments' web pages and explore what they say about themselves, especially the "undergraduate" sections. This may give you a much better sense of the personality of the colleges and departments than did the more formal information found in the Bulletin. The web pages also often include current course descriptions, information on various professors' specialties and research, departmental clubs, awards, department news, and information on the kinds of employment others in the major have found after graduation.

5. Talk with professors you already know who are in the departments you are considering and/or see the undergraduate director of the department (undergraduate directors will be listed on the department's web page). Tell them you are considering their field as a possible major.

6. Browse through the University bookstore shelves and take a look at the required and recommended course textbooks. If the books in a particular area look interesting to you that may indicate that you would find that topic of study interesting. Write down the titles of a few books that caught your interest, include the course names that were associated with these textbooks and do a bit of research on that department.

7. Reflect on Father John Jenkins' challenge to the fall 2009 First Year of Studies Dean's Lists award winners: Take risks. Listen to your voice. Discover your passions.