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How to find a college major?

I'm currently undecided and I have no idea what I want to do with my life. What could I do to find something I'm passionate about that I could study and find a career? #career-path #college-major

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Ken’s Answer


Congratulations on being interested in finding the right career to follow.. It takes a special person to enter into a specific career field and meet the demands which that career area presents. The first step is to get to know yourself to see if you share the personality traits which make one successful in that area. The next step is doing networking to meet and talk to and possibly shadow people doing what you might think that you want to do to see if this is something that you really want to do, as a career area could look much different on the inside than it looks from the outside.  When I was doing college recruiting, I encountered too many students, who skipped these important steps, and ended up in a career/job for which they were ill suited.

Ken recommends the following next steps:

The first step is to take an interest and aptitude test and have it interpreted by your school counselor to see if you share the personality traits necessary to enter the field. You might want to do this again upon entry into college, as the interpretation might differ slightly due to the course offering of the school. However, do not wait until entering college, as the information from the test will help to determine the courses that you take in high school. Too many students, due to poor planning, end up paying for courses in college which they could have taken for free in high school.
Next, when you have the results of the testing, talk to the person at your high school and college who tracks and works with graduates to arrange to talk to, visit, and possibly shadow people doing what you think that you might want to do, so that you can get know what they are doing and how they got there. Here are some tips: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Locate and attend meetings of professional associations to which people who are doing what you think that you want to do belong, so that you can get their advice. These associations may offer or know of intern, coop, shadowing, and scholarship opportunities. These associations are the means whereby the professionals keep abreast of their career area following college and advance in their career. You can locate them by asking your school academic advisor, favorite teachers, and the reference librarian at your local library. Here are some tips: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
It is very important to express your appreciation to those who help you along the way to be able to continue to receive helpful information and to create important networking contacts along the way. Here are some good tips: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-tips-for-writing-a-thank-you-note-thatll-make-you-look-like-the-best-candidate-alive?bsft_eid=7e230cba-a92f-4ec7-8ca3-2f50c8fc9c3c&bsft_pid=d08b95c2-bc8f-4eae-8618-d0826841a284&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20171020&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20171020&bsft_clkid=edfe52ae-9e40-4d90-8e6a-e0bb76116570&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=214115cb-cca2-4aec-aa86-92a31d371185&bsft_pp=2 ##
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L’s Answer

Hi Noemi,


In my opinion, I believe a great way to start is to first think about what you enjoy or like to do. Is there a cause you have a strong interest for? Do you have a hobby that you can imagine yourself pursuing as a professional career? Do you have a profession you admire? Has there ever been anything out there that you were genuinely curious about learning more about? First, figure out what you like to do as your first step. Remember, a job is something you will be doing for the rest of your life. You mind as well make sure you like it. Because, if you don't, trust me, you'll be miserable only looking forward to your next pay check. This applies to your major as well. I changed my major when I was in junior year, and I have to say I am glad I did. My first major was something I thought I would like, but in the end I didn't. Hence, my grade showed how much I did. But, once I began to give what I truly wanted to do some serious thought, I changed my major to the appropriate one and found myself enjoying every single classes I took (REALLY!). And I am now even walking on the path of making it into a career. So, do try to figure out what your interested in or like/enjoy. You might find your answer there.


Kind Regards,

Lora Kim

L recommends the following next steps:

First focus on what you like doing/enjoy, then look for your major. Don't start by first trying to see what major you would like to pursue.
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