Try It! Interactive Exercise - How Do You Decide?
What do you want to do when you graduate? It’s an easy question to pose, but a difficult one to answer. Don’t worry; it’s normal to feel the pressure of that question. People ask it so casually and expect you to respond in a mature and straightforward manner. Just because you are in college does not mean you that you automatically know what you want to major in. Nonetheless, it is important to make some career choices in order to register for courses that will help you reach your career goal.
You must be able to learn from your past, reach for the future, and still focus on the present when deciding what interests you most in order to decide on a major. This exercise will help you make you that decision.
Flashback. Most people usually develop their personalities in early childhood. Most children enjoy particular toys, playing special games; some prefer playing outside, some inside.
Being aware of the way you were when you were a child may help in choosing a major. In the box below, jot down some personality traits that were most noticeable to you when you were a child. What interested you most? How did you approach playtime? How did you relate to your friends and family?
Fast forward. Choosing a major is a process of narrowing your interests and specifying the courses you need to take. Your ability to view the bigger picture, to know where your major can potentially lead you, is important. It’s about looking ahead and preparation.
Below you will find pictures of some environments associated with particular careers. Imagine that this is an art gallery that is showing a career environment display. There are a multitude of pictures hanging in the gallery, but one more so than the others, catches your eye and you keep staring at it.
What picture is most appealing? Why?
Describe the lifestyle that you might expect to have in the working environment that appeals to you.
Click on the pictures of the professional environments for some suggestions as to what school or department in your university you should be enrolled in to complete the studies necessary to become a part of the professional environment(s) that you find most intriguing.
For additional information on the kind of courses you might find within the schools or departments of your choice, try visiting the following Web links to these selected universities, or visit your advisor at your school.
"There is a time when we must firmly choose the course we will follow, or the relentless drift of events will make the decision." Herbert V. Prochnow
Back to reality. It is time to focus on the present, and explore the academic alternatives of different majors that may lead to potential career(s).
What school of your college or university interests you most? Is it the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Business or the School of Health Science? Perhaps it's the School of Mass Communications, the School of Fine Arts or perhaps another School at your college that interests you most.
What are some options and requirements within the school at your college that interests you most? What is it that you have to do to complete the requirements of your major within the your school of choice? Think about next semester and the classes that you need to prepare you for completion of your major.
Below you will find two concept maps. Each map represents one career alternative that you are considering. Fill in each map with your choices. If you are clear about your career choice and have only one choice, then fill in only one map. The concept map shows your alternatives from a narrow perspective to a broad perspective.
Every college has academic regulations, programs, and policies that you must abide by in order to graduate. Make an appointment with your college advisor if you need advice. He or she will help you know what requirements you need to fill and when you should take particular classes during your college career. Most students receive advice for choosing their academic path.
Also, familiarizing yourself with your college’s course book will help you explore your alternatives. There are always options and modifications in choosing your major.
Your professor may want you to send him/her a copy of this. Just fill out the information below, press the "Submit" button and a copy will be sent to each e-mail address given. Or, you may prefer to print out this page to save a copy for your records.
