As a college student, it’s okay if you don’t know exactly what you want to do after you graduate. You have plenty of time to figure it out! However, there are some steps you can take to make sure you are matching your college major to your career goals.
Work backwards
We recommend figuring out which career you want, and then shaping your education based on those dreams. You are paying a lot of money to be at school, so you want to make sure you are working towards a goal that you really want. For example, if you want to be a doctor, you know that you have to go to medical school. Knowing this, you will want to shape your undergrad major to fulfill medical school requirements.
Consider time and money
When exploring your career options, you may find that some fields require more schooling than others. Graduate school is certainly an investment of both time and money. If you know you want to achieve a master’s or doctorate level degree, that’s great! If you’re not so sure, you may want to give your career goals more thought. Maybe choose a major that leads directly into a career without any additional education requirements.
Visit your school’s career center
Meet with an advisor at your career center, and inquire about the different ways they can help you discover a career path. They may have self assessment exams that can assist you in choosing a field that sparks your passions. In discovering that career path, your counselor will help you map out the major and potential minors essential to your studies.
Do your research
We know, it’s stressful to think about your future. You may be tempted to just focus on your classes and figure out the career stuff later. However, exploring different careers is essential to figuring out what you want. You don’t need to map out the next ten years of your life, but you should be doing a bit of research about the various occupations out there.
Focus on the fit of your major
If the first step of choosing a career doesn’t work for you, then focus on the fit of your major. Take note of how you feel during different classes. Do you see yourself doing this type of work in the future? Trust your intuition; do you have an overall sense of ease or belonging when it comes to your major? Reflect, and adjust accordingly!
Matching your major to your future career is all about setting yourself up to achieve your dreams and aspirations. No matter where you are in this process, keep these steps in the back of your mind. Though we encourage you to contemplate these big questions about your future, don’t let it stress you out. You will figure it out, we promise!