Many students may think they’ve found the right major only to find out later that their ideal career or major wasn’t what they thought it was. Others come in unsure about what they want to study at all.

Are You in the Right Major?
Oftentimes students will choose a major without really knowing what they’re getting into, said Adam Martin, the Assistant Director of Career Development.
“When I was 18, I thought being a lawyer was going to be amazing and that’s everything I wanted to do, but it was because of fictionalized versions like T.V. shows … it wasn’t until I started to do the leg work and dig into that a little bit that I realized that’s not a great fit for me.”
The Office of Career and Professional Development offers the Major & Career Exploration (MACE) center where students can research different fields of study and talk with consultants about what might be the best fit for them, Martin said.
Or, students can skip the trip to campus and visit the Major & Career Exploration webpage for self assessments and career assessments.

What jobs can I get with my major?
On the Career Services website, there’s a section titled “What Can I Do With a Major In…” This includes a description of the major, a link to the department website, occupational opportunities, Possible Employment Settings, Internet Resources, Professional Organizations/Associations and Student/Campus Organizations.
Simply click your college and your major.

What is it really like to work my dream job?
Ideally, students should talk to someone already in their chosen profession and start to leverage their own professional network, Martin said.
Martin encouraged students to ask what they like about the job and what they wish they knew before they started.
Martin said the Office of Career and Professional Development does their best to try to connect students with resources in the local community whether they’re doctors or lawyers, but they also encourage students to sit down with professors.
“At the end of the day, what we want is students that are graduating with majors that are exciting to them with career prospects that match up well with … their values and interests,” Martin said.