5 Tips for Students Who Enter College Undecided

By: Melissa Bohanon, CSC Career Intern

Moving into a new city — or even a new part of the city — and living away from your parents for the first time is a big and sometimes scary adjustment. It can feel even scarier when you arrive unsure of what career path you see yourself going down. However, coming into college with your major undecided is a lot more common than you might think!

According to Marquette’s Office of Institutional Research and Analysis, in Fall 2020 the most common major for first-year students was an undeclared major. You can even click through this interactive report and check the data from past years to see the same is true year after year. You are far from alone by being undecided and following these five tips will guide you in finding your perfect fit!

1.   Take MARQ 1040: Career Exploration

Marquette offers a one credit class titled MARQ 1040: Career Exploration taught by the Career Services Center. This class is made for first-year students and sophomores who have not decided on a major yet or are exploring possible career paths. You will learn strategies and participate in career-related activities that allow you to assess your interests, skills, values, personality traits, and strengths. This will give you the perfect opportunity to explore different fields, and the Career Services Center has all the resources you need to prepare for your future.

2.   Determine Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Two of the assessments that are available to all students are the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, which you can access by scheduling a meeting with a Career Counselor through Handshake. Taking these assessments will tell you your interests and personality type which can help you determine what some of your strengths are. It would be a good idea to think about some of your weaknesses as well to figure out the best way to align your future. Knowing this information can help you when deciding a career path as well as in an interview situation. Feeling confident in your abilities and being aware of your downfalls will ultimately lead you towards a major/job that you love!

3.   Rule Out What You Don’t Like

Once you have determined your strengths and weaknesses, begin eliminating options you know you have very little or no interest in. Start by thinking about your hobbies and other activities you like to do in your free time. Identifying specific areas you know you have an interest in may allow you to make some realizations about the areas that do not interest you. Sometimes it will be clear when you do not find something interesting, but give yourself room to explore the options that may not be as obvious. You never know what you might end up liking, so it is good to have options!

4.   Experiment with Intro Classes

After you have eliminated the options that you have little to no interest in, experiment with taking 1001 level intro classes from the list of options that you did not eliminate. Trying new classes that you may not have thought about doing before might end up surprising you and leading you down an unexpected path. You may end up not liking some of them, but you never know until you try!

5.   Do not be afraid to ask for help!

Thinking about your future can be a scary thing but utilizing resources to further your career path should not be part of that. The best thing you could do for yourself is to seek helpful advice for how to move your career forward, and the best way to do that is to take advantage of the Career Services Center. Everyone who works there wants to help you reach your career goals, even if you are not sure what they are yet. It’s okay to feel like you don’t know what you are doing all the time or what you want to be in life. It is unrealistic for anyone to think that we know exactly what we want to do as young adults. So, please, do not be afraid to ask for help!

For more online resources on major/career exploration or any career-related topics, visit the Career Services Center website. You can also schedule a virtual appointment with a Career Counselor on Handshake!