| Whether you have already started your college | | | | if you don't set some more specific steps to |
| education, or are still filling out applications, it is never | | | | accomplish your vision. Just like in a business plan, |
| too soon to start the process of choosing a college | | | | you'll want to set some task-oriented goals toward |
| major. | | | | deciding on your college major. Here are some |
| You are not alone if you haven't selected a college | | | | examples: |
| major yet. In fact about 80% of students who plan | | | | Step 1: Enroll in a wide variety of classes that I'm |
| to attend college are undecided. How are you to | | | | interested in. |
| really know whether a subject will be a perfect fit | | | | Step 2: Talk to a career counselor at the college for |
| for you until you try it out? It's normal to change | | | | advice on choosing a major by Thanksgiving break. |
| your major while in college; about fifty percent of | | | | Step 3: Narrow down a list of possible majors to |
| college students change their major 2-3 times. | | | | three by the end of the first term. |
| What you might not know, is that forty percent of | | | | Step 4: Find an internship related to the top one or |
| college students in a four-year degree program still | | | | two majors by March. |
| have not earned a degree after 6 years. Or that | | | | Step 5: Set up interviews with five people in each |
| 55% of college graduates are not working in their | | | | potential field of study and find out what they like |
| field of major four years after graduation. Maybe you | | | | about their jobs. |
| can save yourself (and your parents) some time, | | | | Step 6: Talk to ten seniors who are majoring in the |
| money, and frustration by taking time now to focus | | | | areas you are interested in. Find out what they like |
| on finding a college major, leaving behind that feeling | | | | about the major, what they don't, and what they are |
| of being "majorly undecided." | | | | going to do with it. |
| Adjusting to college takes some time as you are | | | | Step 7: Read three books related to each of my |
| making new friends, getting used to being in charge | | | | potential majors. Search out professional journals, |
| of your own schedule, and exploring your newfound | | | | teaching manuals, and books geared toward the |
| freedom. So many of your classmates will be | | | | professional within my potential career. |
| "undeclared" that it's easy to go with the crowd. On | | | | Step 8: Make a decision to pursue a particular career |
| the flip side, you might be tempted to pick a college | | | | path, and plan out my course of study for the next |
| major like you chose your cell phone color, without | | | | few years to be sure I get everything in before I |
| much thought. | | | | graduate. |
| Just as any small business who wants to receive a | | | | These steps are really just scratching the surface. |
| bank loan would be required to come up with a | | | | You can go into much greater depth with them, and |
| business plan, we suggest you begin your college | | | | become a true detective. What is more important |
| education with a mission and vision statement. Don't | | | | than something that you may be committing to for |
| make it a chore. Make it a priority, for you, to help | | | | the rest of your life? You have the freedom of |
| you find the focus and the clarity that you need to | | | | choosing a college major that not only makes you |
| not only enjoy college, but enjoy the career path | | | | excited to study, but also look forward to your |
| you've chosen. | | | | future, so take the time now to make this decision a |
| If you haven't chosen a college major yet, make this | | | | priority. |
| part of your mission. Your mission statement might | | | | Regardless of how your research adds up, when you |
| read: "To figure out what I'm interested in." Great | | | | are making your final choice, be sure to take some |
| start. Even as you are going to classes, playing | | | | time for introspection. Take a walk by yourself or |
| intramurals, and sipping coffee on the quad, you can | | | | find some other way to quiet your mind--and listen |
| rest assured that you have a short-term mission for | | | | to what your intuition says about what you'd like to |
| being in college. Take that mission statement a step | | | | study and what you want to do with your life. Don't |
| further and develop it into a vision statement: "Figure | | | | settle on a college major or career that you don't |
| out what I'm interested in and choose a major by | | | | really resonate with--find something that makes you |
| the end of my first year of college." Excellent. | | | | feel jazzed about life. As the ancient Chinese |
| Having this focus and a time-line attached to it, will | | | | philosopher Lao Tzu said, "At the center of your |
| help you a little more, but a year seems like a long | | | | being you have the answer. You know who you are |
| way off, and yet it will probably fly by pretty quickly | | | | and you know what you want. |