Choosing a Major
Choosing what to study during college can be a daunting task. Not only will it guide your path while you're in school, your major or course of study can play a big part of determining your post-college career path. Use the questions and topics below to help you find your best fit at North Park University.
Examine Your Interests
- What types of things excite you?
- What jobs or careers appeal to you?
- Take an interest inventory in the Career Development and Internships Office if you need more guidance.
Examine Your Abilities
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- What kind of skills do you have?
- Look at the classes you took at your last university as well as in high school. What were your best subjects?
- What kind of extracurricular activities did you participate in at your last school or during high school?
- What did you learn at any part time, summer jobs, or internships?
Examine Your Work Values
- What do you value? Examples include: helping society, working under pressure, stability, security, status, working alone or in a group, having a positive impact on others, etc.
- Take an interest inventory in the Career Development and Internships Office if you aren’t sure.
Explore Possible Careers
Do a Reality Check
- Are you aware of your abilities, skills, and values?
- Do your abilities, skills, and values match up?
- Are you committed to further education if needed for a particular career?
- Do your grades meet the requirements of graduate schools you are interested in?
- Do you believe in the career you’ve chosen, and are you comfortable explaining that to your friends and family?
- Are you aware of and comfortable with the average salary of your chosen career?
Narrow Your Choices and Choose a Major
- Review career choices by major, your possible career list, and your abilities.
- Have you sat in on classes or taken any classes associated with your major?
- Have you spoken to any professors in that major?
- List 3 possible majors that fit your interests?
- Speak with your faculty advisor, the Student Enrichment transfer counselor, and Career Development and Internships staff about what you have found.
Resources
- The North Park University catalog: These documents contain information about majors and the required courses for each major.
- Professors: Talk to professors from a variety of disciplines. Often, they are connected to their field's professions and career paths, and have a great deal of insight to share with students.
- Classmates: Talk to other students who have gone through classes in the majors you are interested in.
- Alumni: Connect with University alumni, who can help advise you from a post-college and professional perspective.
- Career Development and Internship Office: The staff in this department can help you process career choices, connect you with internships, and help develop a strategic approach to accomplishing your career goals.