Choosing a Major
Choosing a major calls for gathering information, weighing alternatives, and allowing unhurried time for both thinking concretely and daydreaming. Choosing a major should be a process, leading to discovery and, ultimately, increased career satisfaction.
This process may or may not be a step-by-step progression; rather, it may be fluid or cyclical, i.e. starting at step 4 or 5 and then discovering this is not what you want to do in life and then moving to step 1.
The Process…
1. Self-Assessment/Discovery
-
Explore your values, interests (Get your password for Career Cruising at the Career Center)personality (Get your password for AchieveWORKS assessments on personality, Multiple Intelligence, and Learning Styles Inventory at the Career Center) and skills.
2. Identify Options/Research
-
Gather possible careers from self-assessment results. Counselors can assist with interpreting your results.
-
Use Career Services resources to access our library research page, and videos.
-
Seek out in-depth information such as job outlook (Get access codes for CareerCruising from the Career Center)
-
Know your projected salary for the local area, job description, where you can gain educational and experiential preparation, etc
3. Decision Making
-
Compare options side by side
-
Identify pros and cons
-
Identify if negative self-talk or self-defeating thoughts may be influencing your decision
-
Discuss your options with those who know you well
-
Remember to check options against what you learned in self-assessments
-
Does it fulfill your passion in life as well as meet your practical needs?
-
Remember, it is your life goals and ultimately your decision!
-
Try the Decision-Making Worksheet
4. Design Your Career Plan (short term/long term)
-
Explore career majors at Cuyamaca College
-
Explore majors at California UC and CSU colleges on-line
-
Use academic resources to link career choice with college major(s): in California, Out of State.
-
Identify educational requirements with a counselor – set up an academic plan
-
Visit the Counseling Center and/or Transfer Center
5. Experience Your Field
-
See what a day in the life of a (fill in the blank) is like at Career Cruising:
-
Conduct Informational Interviews, review sample questions to ask, &/or see www.roadtripnation.com
-
Job Shadow, locate Internships; seek out Work Experience and Service Learning opportunities
-
Volunteer or work in your intended field when possible – experience is important and will tell you if this field is right for you!
6. Launch Your Career (job search, resume…)
-
Visit the Career Center if you need employment and/or assistance finding and communicating with potential employers
-
Create resumes, cover letters, or use one of our resume/cover letter templates
-
Make an appointment with our Career Center specialists and counselors to review your resumes and help you in the entire major and career search process
-
Job search engines: look up how your future jobs are being advertised, and how to best prepare at www.indeed.com, www.glassdoor.com, or www.monster.com (Don't forget to check out the Free Online Job Board at the Career Center)
-
Prepare for interviews and read about others’ experiences of interviewing with specific companies
-
Use are Perfect Interview program at the Career Center to practice
7. Meet with a Counselor and/or take an in-depth class to explore careers and majors
-
Make an appointment with a Counselor to explore your career options and create a career and academic plan or Job Placement Case Manager to discuss your employment needs.
-
Take Counseling 120, College and Career Success (3 unit course that meets CSU GE and transfer to the UC) or Counseling 110, Career Decision Making (1 unit course that transfers to the CSU
More Guides on Choosing a Major
-
Guide to Choosing a Major
-
Princeton Review Guide on Choosing a Major
-
Best College Guide on Choosing a Major
-
CollegeBoard Guide on Choosing a Major
Last Updated: 06/09/2020
Contact
Career Center
Email: cuyamaca.career@gcccd.edu
