| So you've picked a school (college or
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| | This can be fruitful but you will need to
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| technical) but what are you going to
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| | be more organized when planning class
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| study?
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| | schedules and picking classes. Some
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| I've compiled a list of things to
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| | majors will not allow you the time to
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| consider when choosing an academic major.
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| | devote to a second major (often called
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| Level of interest: Do you enjoy the
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| | comprehensive majors.) Be informed and be
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| subject? You are more likely to be
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| | prepared to work!
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| successful if you enjoy your major. If it
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| | Check out survey and introductory courses
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| bores you, you will likely be unmotivated
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| | in a variety of programs. These courses
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| and may suffer academically.
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| | will be more general and give you a
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| Do you have a natural talent/skill?
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| | better understanding of what to expect
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| Don't discount any natural talents or
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| | from the program as a whole. Remember,
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| skills, instead, let those skills guide
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| | you probably are not going to like every
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| you to success.
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| | single class or topic in your major. I
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| Possible careers? What sort of job will
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| | had a friend who loved cost accounting
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| your degree prepare you for? Will you
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| | but hated her tax accounting class.
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| need additional schooling to achieve your
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| | Browse the course catalog. Familiarize
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| career goals? Is your major geared toward
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| | yourself with the policies and
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| one particular trade (for example;
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| | requirements. Read the school's handbook
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| engineering or accounting) or can you
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| | regarding the differences in requirements
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| apply it to many careers (Majors such as
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| | for an Associate's Degree, a Bachelor's
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| English, history, psychology that teach
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| | of Arts, Bachelor's of Science,
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| marketable, non-trade specific skills
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| | Bachelor's of Fine Arts, etc. These will
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| such as reasoning, critical thinking,
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| | each require a different set of courses.
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| writing and communication)?
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| | Also, check your school's general
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| What are the requirements? What courses
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| | education requirements. These are often a
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| and how many will you have to take within
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| | set core of courses every student must
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| the major as well as supplementary
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| | take in order to earn their degree. Check
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| courses outside your major (i.e.
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| | for overlaps and conflicts with your
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| accounting students take courses in
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| | major. Some departments won't give credit
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| marketing, economics, and business as
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| | for certain courses in a major that were
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| well as specific accounting courses).
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| | used for general education requirements.
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| Does the program require a minimum GPA
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| | Use your advisor. These people know the
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| for admission and retention? Will you
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| | ropes. They are there to help you
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| need a minor? Will you be required to
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| | navigate the system. If all of this is
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| complete an internship or a co-op
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| | overwhelming (and don't feel bad if it
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| program?
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| | is) relax! If you have an advisor who
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| Prerequisites. Are there specific
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| | just isn't helping you, see if your
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| courses you must complete prior to
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| | school has a set of general advisors set
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| engaging in major specific courses?
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| | up for undecided students. These
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| (Prerequisites are often lower level
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| | counselors will often have access to
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| introductory courses that establish a
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| | information about general school topics
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| basic set of knowledge that will be
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| | (deadlines, procedures) as well as tools
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| referred to and built upon in subsequent
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| | to help you find information regarding
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| classes.) For example if you wanted to
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| | specific degree programs. If you already
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| major in psychology you would most likely
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| | have a major but are unsatisfied with
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| be required to take a course introducing
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| | your advisor, consider asking for a
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| theories, models and major researchers in
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| | reassignment. Often this can be done in
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| the field.
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| | the department office.
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| Evaluate the instructors. How qualified
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| | Talk to other students. They can often
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| are the teachers? Where did they go to
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| | provide insight and experience that will
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| school, what sort of degrees do they
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| | be beneficial. An upperclassman can be
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| hold, where have they previously worked
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| | your best friend when it comes to
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| or taught and what have they published?
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| | figuring out the system. Not only do they
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| Find out about reputations from other
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| | know the best places to eat, but they
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| students as well. Is a certain professor
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| | might know the best places to buy and
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| notorious for being rigid or difficult? A
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| | sell books, the best advisors and the
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| good relationship with an instructor can
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| | best teachers.
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| benefit you when you begin applying to
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| | Don't be afraid to change your mind. In
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| graduate schools or jobs and you need
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| | the long run it's better to spend an
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| recommendations.
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| | extra year or two in college than to be
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| Program reputation. Does the program
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| | miserable or regret your decisions.
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| receive national attention? What do
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| | People change their majors all the time
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| graduates think of the program? What sort
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| | (I changed mine 3 times.) and while it's
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| of jobs do alumni hold?
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| | a big decision, it is only a piece of the
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| Are you considering a double major? A
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| | larger puzzle.
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| double major can be a huge undertaking.
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|
