Career Advising Southern Connecticut State University Choosing Your Major Career Advising Southern Connecticut State University

How to Choose Your Major Think about what interests you: Social events, creativity, businessperson? Think about your personality: Caring, ambitious, artistic, listener, imaginative, mechanical? Dream job: Think about choosing a major that will help prepare you for that specific career path or advanced study. Money: Think about if making a lot of money interest you. Consider a major that can reach you to a career that match the salary you want. Passion: If there is a subject you love, you may want to choose a major that coincides with that passion. If you love what you’re studying, you are more than likely to fully engage in classes and the college experience Free Spirit: If you have no idea about your interest, personality, dream job, etc… do not PANIC! Talk to professors, advisors, department heads, and make the most out of your general education courses.

Resources: Focus Step 1: Follow this link http://www.southernct.edu/student-life/academic-success/career-services/ and then click on FOCUS Step 2: Fill out the online tool to help find different career opportunities based off your personality/interest answers.

Resources: 4 Year Career Planning Guide Step 1: Follow this link http://www.southernct.edu/student-life/academic-success/career-services/ and then click on Resources for Student Step 2: Click on Choosing A Major Step 3: Click on Four Year Career Planning Guide and navigate/read through the important tips

Resources: What Can I Do With My Major? Step 1: Follow this link http://www.southernct.edu/student-life/academic-success/career-services/ and then click on Resources for Student Step 2: Click on Choosing A Major Step 3: Click on What Can I Do With My Major? Step 4: Navigate/read through majors and career plans

Gain Experiences Informational Recruitment- Join employers that come to SCSU to find out more about their company and/or job opportunities. Great way to meet employers in person! Volunteer- Gain experience by volunteering free time to take part in valuable practice. Take on tasks, responsibility, or a project without any form of payment. Cooperative Education-  Gain valuable career-related experience while earning academic credit and money. After graduation, students usually find that their co-op position makes them more attractive to prospective employers. In addition, they often receive higher salary offers than students without co-op experience. Internships- Gain experience with an employer for a limited period of time. This is an opportunity to gain exposure in the working environment, often within a specific industry, which relates to field of study

Final Tips Seek help- It is extremely beneficial to utilize your school’s resources when it comes to choosing a major Explore- Take classes that interest you to help narrow down your major Be introspective- Get to know yourself better and you can do this by taking different courses Be proactive- Attend academic meetings or clubs that interest you. Speak with other students who are enrolled in the departments/majors you are considering.

Contact Us Aimee Piccin Associate Director of Academic and Career Advising PiccinA1@SouthernCT.edu Wintergreen Building (203) 392-6517 All juniors, seniors, and graduate students Kelianna Bonn Graduate Assistant BonnK2@SouthernCT.edu Wintergreen Building (203) 392-6539 All freshmen and sophomore students Search: Career Services