Answers from the Experts

"I wanted to know what are the most important things to ask yourself when choosing a college major? I have narrowed my choices down to Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Pharmacy, and Pre-Med. It would be perfect if I could find something that did all of them. Maybe I'm dreaming. I want a job where I travel, make a good amount of money starting out (50,000+), and something that doesn't require me to be at a desk all day all the time. Please help me!" Responses were sent from: Lafayette College, State University of New York at Binghamton, Drew University, Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, Foundation of New York State Nurses, Association of American Medical Colleges, Alfred University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Franklin and Marshall College and Adelphi University. Member Institution and Association Answers:

From Lafayette College: Many high school students feel pressure during their teenage years to decide what they would like to pursue as a college major or career. Some students are naturally inclined towards certain areas because of their strengths and passions toward particular academic areas that they have really enjoyed. If this naturally occurs, it's nice to know that you have a focus. On the other hand, there are many areas of study offered in college that are not offered at the high school level. High school budget and staffing limitations often force high school administrators to make sure that the basic subjects are being taught to all levels of students, but this may mean that it's not possible to offer such subjects as astronomy, meteorology, anthropology, philosophy, art history, biochemistry, and political science, to name a few. The arrival at college can often be a time for self-exploration, during which students may opt to enroll in classes that are different from their previous experiences. Being exposed to new disciplines may enable a student to realize completely new interests and passions. How do you sort through all the confusion? Choice is great, but this can mean that it's difficult to achieve focus and find your direction. Most colleges and universities have many resources to help. As an undergraduate attending college you will likely be assigned an academic advisor who can speak with you about your strengths, weaknesses and goals. He or she can help you sort out your academic options, providing guidance about the future. Another resource is the Career Services Office. Career counselors can assist students in finding a focus by administering interest inventories and/or ability tests. They can also help students discover the many different paths that may lead to a particular career, or help with research professions so that students can find the kinds of jobs that best suit their work styles and environmental preferences. College is a time for change and growth. Some students graduate from college with a degree in the major they were considering in high school. Others have taken a completely different path, inspired by a professor or a mentor to pursue another area. Be open minded, seek mentors, utilize resources and explore options. You'll find your niche. Carol A. Rowlands Director of Admissions Lafayette College Easton, PA 18042 610-330-5100 www.lafayette.edu

From Drew University: I am fascinated by your wide variety of interests. To fine-tune your options I suggest you conduct a self-assessment noting your strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes and those areas that you excel in. Then I would advise redirecting your attention from selecting a major to prepare for your first job to selecting a major or curriculum that will help you prepare for life. Once you have performed these two exercises, I believe the rest will fall into place. In addition, I encourage you to continue to do your "homework" by speaking with people in your fields of interest and by visiting those schools you have identified as a good match for you overall. Good Luck! Mary Beth Carey, Dean of Admissions and Financial Assistance Drew University Madison, NJ www.drew.edu

From Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA): Six Steps to Choosing a Major in College The first step in your decision of a college major should be an examination or self-assessment of your interests. What types of things excite you? What types of jobs or careers appeal to you? Also, many, if not all, college career centers have a variety of self-tests you can take to help you answer some of these questions. The second step is an examination of your abilities. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What kind of skills do you have? You can begin this self-examination by looking at the courses you took in high school. What were your best subjects? Is there a pattern there? What kinds of extracurricular activities did you participate in while in high school? What kinds of things did you learn from part-time or summer jobs The third step involves examining what you value in work. Examples of values include: helping society, working under pressure, group affiliation, stability, security, status, pacing, working alone or with groups, having a positive impact on others, and many others. The fourth step is career exploration. There are many schools that offer "what can I do with a major in…?" fact sheets or Websites. You can also learn more about various occupations, including future trends, by searching the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. The fifth step on your journey is the reality check. You need to honestly evaluate your options. Do you really value physicians and have an interest in being a doctor, but have little skills in science? Does your occupation require an advanced degree, but your future commitments preclude graduate study? Do you have a strong interest in the arts, but your family wants you to become a CPA like your father? It is still important to face these obstacles and be realistic about whether you can get around them. The sixth and final step on your journey is the task of narrowing your choices and focusing on choosing a major. Based on all your research and self-assessment of the first five stops on your journey, you should now have a better idea of the careers/majors you are not interested in pursuing as well as a handful of potential careers/majors that do interest you. Don’t forget to take advantage of: Your college's course catalog -– you'll be amazed at the wealth of information you can find here…from required courses to specialized majors and tracks. Your professors, including your academic adviser -– talk with your professors, whether you have taken a class with them or not…many of them have worked in the field in which they teach and all are experts about careers and career opportunities. Your classmates -– these are the folk who are deep into their major. Use them as a resource to gather more information. Your college's alumni -– unless your college was just founded, your school probably has a deep and varied group of alums, many of whom like to talk with current students…so use them as a resource to gather more information about careers. Your family and friends -– there's a wealth of information right at your fingertips. Next time you go home or call home, ask your family about majors and careers. Your college's career center -– this college office has a wealth of information at their fingertips. Start visiting in your first year because most have resources for choosing a major and a career, as well as internship and job placement information. The Ventures Scholar Program ---an excellent place to gather information from a variety of colleges and professions. There are also a number of books that you may find useful, including: How to Choose a College Major, by Linda Landis Andrews (VGM Career Horizons). The College Board Guide to 150 Popular College Majors, by Renee Gernand (College Entrance Examination Board). The College Majors Handbook: The Actual Jobs, Earnings, and Trends for Graduates of 60 College Majors, by Paul E. Harrington and Thomas F. Harrington (Jist Works). Major Decisions: A Guide to College Majors, Richard A. Blumenthal and Joseph A. Despres (Wintergreen/Orchard House). Major in Success: Make College Easier, Beat the System, and Get a Very Cool Job, Patrick Combs (Ten Speed Press). Dr. Tod Schadler Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) www.ohiovma.org OVMA 1st Vice President OVMA Diversity Task Force Chair gatos@msn.com

From the Foundation of New York State Nurses I would like to suggest to the student that he or she think about bio-medical engineering.. The engineering/computer interest seems strong and this is a wide open job market. An individual could accept a position with an individual organization that may or may not have multiple sites or a contract agency providing bio-medical services. It would be good to contact a health care agency in the geographic area and ask to interview someone who is a bio med engineer. Susan Fraley, MS, RN Foundation of New York State Nurses sfraley@foundationnysnurses.org 518 456 7858 ext 29

From the Association of American Medical Colleges: The most important question in this scenario is probably "Which of the areas mentioned would he/she pursue if compensation wasn't an issue?" Essentially, make the choice based on what you enjoy at the basic level and would probably be interested in even if you were not being paid for it. Another tool that may help is "Which of the subjects do you look forward to learning more about AND seldom need extra motivation to study?" That's your major! Kevin Harris Senior Staff Associate & SMEP Deputy Director kharris@aamc.org 202/828-0409

From Alfred University: Choosing a college major should not be a difficult decision. While it can seem daunting, it shouldn't be. I would ask yourself "What do I enjoy doing?" This will help you decide what really excites you and makes you want to learn more. College in itself can be a stressful and difficult time. It is tougher than High School, but in my opinion it was so much more fun. By letting yourself study something that you thoroughly enjoy, you can enjoy your classes, projects and extra work. When you enjoy something, it is easy to put extra time in, and it is this extra time spent on class work that gets you that dream job where you get paid to have fun every day. Example - In high school, I enjoyed Math and Science, I also was amazed in how the human body can adapt to different stresses. I ran Cross Country and Track in high school and college, and could run really far without getting hurt. This was fascinating to me. I chose to go into Biomedical Materials Engineering Science because it allowed me to study both math and the sciences, develop a great background in these areas, and also research and work with human subjects and patients and see how the human body can adapt to different stresses. I was able to relate my studies to what I enjoyed, and thus was able to really like what I was learning. What you study as an undergrad does not mean you have to do that work when you graduate. Your choices are all in the sciences. Choosing a program at a school that allows you to mix and match your engineering choices sounds to be the best bet for you. An engineering degree in the electrical side with some biology and chemistry courses would grant you the experiences that would greatly help your chances in working in the engineering or medical fields. I had thought of going on to medical school, and with my degree when I decide on going, I am fully capable. With an engineering degree, there are a lot of jobs out there. You never know what you might end up doing when you graduate. I love to travel myself, and the job I have now allows me to travel, work with college students, and take graduate classes for free. I earned this job because I had an engineering degree. I hope this helps you! Andrew Corman Engineering and Science Enrollment Specialist Alfred University Saxon Drive Alfred, NY 14802 607-871-2115/800-541-9229 Fax: 607-871-2198 cormanac@alfred.edu

From Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: This student should not feel pressured at all by these. Last time I checked, the National averages among college students were around 70% of them are either undecided or change their major within their first two years of college. In addition, the average American has about 12 different jobs and works in 7 different career fields before they retire. Because of these realities, I encourage young people to identify those subjects that they are passionate about, academic and otherwise as well as push them to recognize the types of challenges that intrigue and engage them the most. (There are enough academic majors and interdisciplinary programs across the country that students should not have to feel pigeon-holed into one discipline.) If they follow those leads, they will likely find universities that support their interest and can help them reach their potential and make their academic, professional, and personal goals a reality. Also ask the college/university reps about interdisciplinary programs that would suite your interests. Be selfish in the college search process. It is yours and it is up to you,(with support and guidance from others) to find the best match. Sincerely, Michael E. Moore Associate Dean & Director of Minority Recruitment Office of Enrollment Management Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY 12180-3590 moorem5@rpi.edu 518-276-8046 Phone 518-276-4072 Fax http://admissions.rpi.edu/ http://admissions.rpi.edu/counselor_web/michaelm

From Franklin & Marshall College: First, don't think job...think learn. Job comes later - college comes first. That's like deciding which room of your house you're going to put the Oscar on, and you haven't even tried out for the part yet. Second, go to a liberal arts college where asking this question is more easily asked and better answered after a year or two of taking different kinds of classes, interacting with different faculty experts, hearing stories of interesting educational paths taken by interesting people, learning from other successful students and alumni, and not feeling like you have to know the answer to this question before you even arrive on campus. Having multiple interests is to be celebrated, exploited, explored, and layered together into a strong and interesting fabric - one that will long outlast "just a job"...it should not be squelched by you thinking you have to choose one thing over another and give up on some of your passions and interests before you even graduate high school..you're 17 for Pete's sake. Next, take an informal poll of people your parents' age and find out how many of them are doing what they thought they'd be doing when they were 17...you'll likely find very few...or even fewer of those who can remember back that far and that precisely. Lastly, It is not up to you to answer these questions on your own. Answering these questions is what college is supposed to do for you. Varo L. Duffins Associate Dean of Admission Franklin & Marshall College P.O. Box 3003 Lancaster, PA 17604-3003 (717) 291-4255 (717) 291-4389 fax varo.duffins@fandm.edu http://www.FandM.edu

From Adelphi University: It is perfectly natural to not have decided on a major, or even a group of possible majors, while you are attending high school. In many colleges you aren't even allowed to pick a major until the end of your sophomore year. Between 1/4 and 1/3 of all entering freshmen start college as Undecided or Undeclared. Another 1/3 who come in with a major selected will change it within the first three semesters. All of this is healthy and leaves the student able to pick and choose as s/he becomes more aware of strengths, weaknesses, and career options. Remember, you can do most things with most majors. You will continue to be educated (I hope) long after you leave college and you will learn how to enter many professions, some of which do not now exist! No one trained to be a Web page designer 20 years ago because there was no World Wide Web. You will probably have a job or a profession some time in the future that doesn't even exist now. So, don't worry about not knowing what you want to major in. Keep yourself open to what are your strengths and weaknesses. Talk to lots of people who are majoring in many areas. Talk to people in certain jobs that might interest you. When you get to college study everything you can--and when the time comes you will be able to choose a major. Lester B. Baltimore Associate Provost Academic Affairs Academic Services and Retention Adelphi University Phone: 516-877-3142