Steps to Choosing a Major

(adapted from Northwestern University – Career Services Web site: http://www.northwestern.edu/careers/students/major/maj_steps.htm)

Where should you start? The steps to a choosing a major follow a basic decision making/problem solving process. While not difficult, it does take some time, thought and effort on your part to yield meaningful results. Like a treasure hunt, you collect clues in the form of information and then you piece the clues together to form your treasure – a satisfying decision.

Step 1 - Assess Yourself

· Your first step is to do some self-assessment. The more you understand yourself, the clearer your life goals and the way to reach them becomes.

· Ask yourself the following questions for important clues:

ü What do you truly enjoy? There are careers related to every interest you have! Consider the classes and activities that you have enjoyed the most. What did they involve? Why did you enjoy them?

ü Identify your skills and aptitudes. What types of things do you seem to do well? Are they technical...adventurous...intellectual?

ü What is really important to you? Your personal values are important. Is enjoying your work more important than prestige? Is creativity more important than security? You want to make a choice compatible with your values.

ü What is the coolest job you can imagine? Why?

Step 2 - Gather Information and Explore Options

· Gather information about different departments and majors by examining the Undergraduate Bulletin. Read descriptions of the courses and mark those that are of interest to you, match your abilities or share your values. Can you shorten your list?

· Go to the department home pages of the majors on your short list. Talk to students currently in these majors and to faculty who teach courses in them.

· Visit the Career Center (located in the Student Center) and use the resources there to research both majors and related careers.

· Actively attend the Options Overview presentations.

· Arrange for a “shadowing” experience. Shadowing entails visiting someone in a profession that interests you and observing him/her for a limited period of time .

· Conduct an Informational Interview. Contact a professional in your field of interest and make an appointment to interview him/her briefly. This is a great opportunity for you to get first hand knowledge about a professional's career. Visit the Career Center for more details on how to perform this and how to prepare questions to ask in the interview.

Step 3 - Evaluate and Make Your Major Decision

· Consider carefully what you learned. Weigh the pros and cons of your remaining major options. If you haven't already, narrow your list down to two or three. Have you considered a second major or a minor?

· If you are still unsure, meet with a Counselor in Student Development and Academic Services or your Mentor who can assist you in evaluating the information you have collected, suggest additional resources, and guide you through the decision making process.

Step 4 - Take Action

· Register for classes that let you sample courses in the major(s) you are considering.

· Explore the student activities, internships, volunteer work, and/or part time employment that can help you further develop the skills and interests related to your majors of interest.

· Talk to people who work in the career fields you are considering. Ask them about their major and how it helped them.