Career Services

How Do I Choose a Major?

The best way to begin to figure out what to major in is by getting to know yourself. What are your interests? Abilities? Skills? Values? Do you like to work with numbers, people, animals, computers? What would you like to major in? What is your ideal career? If you hesitate to answer any of these questions, take the following steps to develop your self awareness. Structured assessments, practical experience, personal reflection, and discussions with trusted individuals will help you complete this step.

 

Complete a Career Assessment Exercise (Career "Test")

Try the free FOCUS assessment tool to help clarify your interests, values, skills, personality, education preferences and leisure time interests. Use this information as a basis for further discussions about your choice of major and future with a career counselor, friends, and family members. Additionally, this tool can be used to research job titles that fit your personal profile. Also available through Career Services are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) for $10 and the Strong Interest Inventory (SII) for $15. You must make an appointment with a career counselor to receive and discuss your results.

 

Get in Touch With your Hopes, Dreams and Goals

Take time to dream and write a list of things you hope to accomplish in life. Talk to an advisor, family, and friends about what is important to you.   

Brainstorm possible careers that may allow you to fulfill those goals.

 

Meet with an advisor

Discuss your plans, academic interests and non-academic interests with an advisor from Career Services to identify majors and minors that relate to them.  CMU also has advisors in academic departments in addition to advisors who can assist with course scheduling, use the link above for contact information.

 

Explore the Bulletin

You know the one; the big book that all students received at Orientation!  Look through the various majors, minors, programs, and courses offered in each of CMU’s 6 academic colleges.  Read the course descriptions for the areas that interest you.  Follow up by visiting the departments you are interested in and make an appointment to speak with an advisor. Upper level students can provide valuable information also.  Finally, sample courses in those departments will give you more insight as well as filling the University Program requirements.

 

Consider Taking CED 101: Career and Self-Exploration

This 8-week (1 credit) class offers students the opportunity to develop self-awareness, career awareness, and academic awareness leading to a comprehensive career plan.

 

Get involved

Employers and graduate schools will make judgments on your applications based on your out-of-classroom involvements or lack thereof!  CMU offers so many opportunities to build your professional development through academics (research with a professor), volunteerism, student organizations (honoraries, Greek Life, intramural and club sports, cultural enrichments, diversity programming, bands, comedians, and so much more!