Your College Major

Choosing a college major is something that requires much thought and consideration but, in reality, it is just the
first step toward developing a foundation that you will continue to build on for the rest of your life. Although some
college students know exactly what they want to major in when they enter college, the majority of students are
not even close to choosing a major when entering college. The fact is that a major is only a small piece of the
puzzle when it comes time to deciding on a career after college.
Students may decide on a major based on a personal interest in a specific discipline or by doing well in specific
courses in high school. Other students may already know that they have an interest in medicine, law, business,
journalism, the arts (art/music/theater), psychology, government, etc. Oftentimes students will combine their
interests and will choose to do a double major or major in one concentration and minor in another to enable them
to pursue their interests in both subjects. You can try this short personality quiz provided by About.com guide
Grace Fleming but a thorough assessment given by a career counselor will provide additional information to further
your understanding of the connection between personality type and career.
College students have an enormous opportunity to gain a wide range of experiences during their college years.
Internships, volunteer, college jobs, and co-curricular activities often take up much of a college student's time. It's
important to get a wide range of experiences if you are not sure what you want to do after college. Gaining a wide
range of experiences will help you develop new knowledge and skills and will expose you to a variety of options
while also making you eligible for a wide range of jobs.
The truth is that college prepares students to be critical thinkers and provides a foundation for students to create a
worldview based on learning from a variety of disciplines. It is not so much what you study but the critical thinking
and problem solving skills you learn in college that makes the difference between career options for a college
graduate and someone who enters the job market right after high school. A college major will prepare you to take
those critical thinking skills along with communication, presentation, organization, and writing skills that are all a
part of college life to pursue a career that meets your interests and specifications. These skills learned in college
prepare students for success in a broad range of career options after graduation.
"People think that a major chooses a career, but that's just not the case," says Rosanne Lurie, a career counselor
who has worked both at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, San Francisco. "Your
interests and abilities lead to the decision of a major and a career after that, but there isnt always a direct relation
between the two. A major doesn't predetermine what you end up doing."
In a recent survey taken by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), it was reported that
internship programs are now ranked as the number-one source for finding entry-level employeesthey were
previously ranked seventh. Cooperative education programs moved from number 12 on the list a few years ago to
the number two spot. Consequently, developing those key transferable skills while gaining valuable experience
through internships or other forms of experiential education is ultimately more important in preparing for a future
career than picking the right major.
If you are a first year student, you will be embarking on a totally new experience that will provide you with
challenges that will help you grow and further develop your decision-making and critical thinking skills. If you are a
sophomore student or higher, you will be more likely to know what to expect but may still experience some
uncertainty on how to best utilize your college experience in the future.
An important thing that students must consider is the steps they need to take to make their college years more
successful. Although getting good grades and a high GPA is an excellent start, taking the initiative to get some real
world experience will prove invaluable once you graduate and enter today's competitive job market.
Gaining Experience While Still in College
In addition to taking classes, it is also essential that you acquire the skills required to be successful in the
workplace. By participating in several experiential activities like job shadowing, internships, co-ops, service
learning, and volunteering, you will be able to get the real world experience that employers look for in the hiring
process. I recommend a minimum of three internships during college. You may do all of your internships in the
same field (if you know what youd like to do after college); or you may try out different types of internships to
help sort out your interests and learn about various career options.

This fall you may decide to do an internship or volunteer experience at an organization on campus or in your
college community. To find available opportunities, I suggest you try contacting the Career Services Office at your
college first. Most CS offices provide lists of local internships, volunteer opportunities, and jobs that students can
look into. Other places to seek out local opportunities are the Chamber of Commerce or newspaper. Another way
to find opportunities is by prospecting. By contacting employers where you think youd like to work, you may
uncover an organization that would be happy to have a college student come in and help out.
What Employers Look For
Whatever you decide to do, the skills and accomplishments you achieve at your internship or volunteer
organization can provide excellent experience to include on your resume. Building a strong resume during your
college years will be a definite asset when seeking a job after graduation. One of the first things employers look for
in their candidates is relevant experience and if you can show that you have this experience, it will put you well
ahead of other candidates who are applying for the same job.
Internship and Career Information for College Students
In addition to working with the Career Services Office at your college, be sure to check out some of Pennys Top
Internship Sites listed on the web. There are also a number of About.com Guides Sites that offer a wealth of
information for college students ranging from college life to career planning, job searching, and graduate school; in
addition to specific information on careers in finance, law, music, etc.

Asking Yourself These 5 Questions Can Help Make the Decision Easier
When you were in high school, everyone wanted to know where you were going to go to college. Now that you're
there, everyone wants to know what you're going to major in. If you're having problems deciding, try asking
yourself these five questions.
What do I love?
Knowing what really engages you is critically important when picking a major. If you think you want to be a doctor
but can't wait until chemistry ends because it means you can head straight to your Shakespeare class, pay
attention to that. No matter what major you choose, if you're like everyone else, you'll end up changing careers
several times during your lifetime. So pick something that speaks to the fire in your belly and that will get you
excited, regardless of the context in which it's presented.
What am I good at?
Do students in your residence hall always come to you for help with their biology homework? Do you always earn
rave reviews for your performances or art work? Majoring in something that you have a natural inclination toward
can speak to where your interests and skills are, and, if you're particularly skilled in a specific subject, can possibly
lead to further study (abroad, in graduate school, or with a fellowship after graduation).
What do I want to do?
Have you always wanted to be a doctor? A teacher? A lawyer? Don't limit yourself to only doing what is traditional
for those fields. If you want to be a doctor but have a love of Spanish literature, make sure you take your pre-med
requirements...and look into majoring in Spanish. Pursuing a long-term professional goal while exploring your
interests along the way can be a bonus on your graduate school applications. Similarly, if you know you've always
wanted to work on Wall Street, make sure you're adequately prepared with the coursework you'll need to get your
foot in the door. Your major and your preparation for a professional field don't always have to be the exact same
thing.
What skills do I want to learn?
If you love theater and are hoping to pursue it full-time after you graduate, remember to keep in mind the
additional skills you'll need to do so. If you want to run your own theater company someday, you'll need to know

about all kinds things about business rules, ethics, marketing, writing, public relations, and customer service. Pick
a major that is intellectually interesting and that also provides you with the practical training you may need later.
What life factors do I need to consider?
Many students have additional factors influencing their college choices: family, financial obligations, cultural
expectations. While exploring your own path is highly important, it's also important to keep in mind that these
external forces will have an influence on your post-college life in one way or another. Finding a major that can
provide balance for your internal dreams and desires with external expectations can make an overwhelming
situation sometimes feel more manageable.
What do you want to major in?"
The question can come in many forms: What academic subject most interests you? What do you plan to study?
What are your academic goals? Why do you want to major in business?
Don't be misled by the question. A significant percentage of college applicants have no idea what major they will
choose, and the majority of high school students who have chosen a major will actually change their mind before
they graduate. Your interviewer knows this, and there is nothing wrong with being honest about your uncertainty.
That said, you don't want to sound like you have never considered the question. Colleges aren't eager to admit
students who entirely lack direction or academic interests. So, if you are undecided about your major, think about
the difference between these two responses:

I don't know what I want to major in. While this response may be honest, it's not helping your
interviewer get to know what does interest you. You've shut down the question, and you haven't made a good
case for being admitted to the college.

I haven't chosen a major yet, but I love working with people. I'm looking forward to taking
courses in sociology, psychology, and political science to learn more. Sure, you haven't chosen a major
yet, but your answer shows that you've thought about the options and, more importantly, that you're
intellectually curious and looking forward to exploring the possibilities.
If you do have a strong sense of what you want to study, you'll still want to make sure your answer creates a
positive impression. Think about the following responses:

I want to major in business because I want to make lots of money. You're telling the interviewer
that material gain is your top priority. Are you actually interested in business? Students who choose a major
based on its earning potential are less likely to succeed in college than those who have an actual interest in the
subject matter that they are studying. I've seen a lot of business majors and engineers either change majors or
drop out of college because they were, in truth, not interested in business or engineering.

My parents want me to become a doctor. Okay, but what do you want to do? Do you have thoughts of
your own, or are you going to let your parents define your academic path?

I want to major in political science because I want to go to law school. Do you have sincere
interest in political science? And why do you want to go to law school? You're going to spend four years of your
life studying as an undergraduate, so you don't want to breeze over your response with a comment about
graduate school. The interviewer isn't admitting you to graduate school.
Make sure you are ready to explain why you are interested in a particular field. What experiences or high school
courses piqued your interest?
At some large universities it is possible that you will need to pick a field of study when you apply. For example,
some of the California public universities are trying to balance enrollments within different programs. And if you
are applying to a business or engineering school within a larger university, you will often need a specialized
application for that school.
At most colleges, however, being undecided is fine. Here at Alfred University, for example, the College of Liberal
Arts and Sciences recently changed the official designation for undecided students from "Undecided" to "Academic
Exploration." Exploring is a good thing, and it's what the first year of college is for.

Learning from others and sharing our own experiences are excellent strategies we tend to use when making
important decisions. The techniques used in finding rewarding internships are no different. Tell us about your
internship and learn what previous interns had to say about their experiences interning for the NBA, Digg.com, The
U.S. Coast Guard, etc.
Types of Internships:
Internships can run the gamut from financial analyst to museum educator and anything in between. Although most
students tend to do internships that relate to their college major, there are many opportunities for them to do
totally unrelated internships that might spark a new career interest. Engaging in career exploration is one of the
most vital aspects of doing an internship. Recently I spoke to a student who completed an internship in journalism
with a famous magazine in New York City last summer and was planning on interning this summer at a nonprofit
organization in Boulder, CO, where she would be helping to educate women at a domestic violence shelter. These
types of internships offer hands-on experience and exposure to careers and career options that will ultimately
provide the knowledge required to make an informed decision when deciding on a future career.
Networking Your Way to an Internship:
Since networking is a vital part of career development, I often recommend that students do this when looking for
an internship. When speaking with family, friends, previous supervisors, or faculty students can ask about their
learning experiences and what led them to their career in the field. College alumni networks are also good places
to find people who are working in a career that you are considering. These people can not only share their
individual experiences on the job, but can also let you know the types of internships they completed while they
were still in college. These stories can be very valuable to you as a student and they may get you to thinking about
additional career options that you may not have previously considered.
Students Share Their Stories:
Since students are very interested in what other students have done, this summer we have a group of interns at
our college who will be sharing their summer internship experiences once they return to campus in the fall. I often
have students ask me about internships that other students have completed, and I find that it is often helpful for
them to learn more about the experiences of others and be able to use that information to figure out how they can
apply it to their own search and in choosing internships that are right for them.

FORBES TOP
What happens when women make up half of the workforce and they are more likely than ever before to be
primary or co-breadwinners in their families? It means it's increasingly crucial for women to earn top dollar for
their labor.
To rank the 10 best-paying jobs for women we tabulated the median weekly earnings of female, full-time
wage and salary workers in 2009, as provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Men are still earning
more across industries--about 20% more than women per week--but women are quickly closing the gap.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a slim majority (51%) of workers in high-paying management and
professional jobs are female.

This top 10 list is equal parts a lesson in the importance of math and science skills, a showcase for the obvious
(doctors, lawyers), a reinterpretation of "women's work" and an attempt to forecast the high-paying jobs of the
future.
Chief executive came in at No.1 on our list as the top-paying job for women. Female chief executives made a
median of $1,553 per week, or about $81,000, in 2009. However, their total numbers are still low, and they aren't
earning equally to men. Women comprise just a quarter of all chief executive positions and earn 75% as much
as their male peers. But younger women may be moving into business more than previous generations. In 2007
women received 44% of all M.B.A.s., according to the U.S. Department of Education, while in 1997 they earned
39%, translating to a 75% increase in the last 10 years.
"Chief executives will remain well-paid in years to come, and it's a position you can work your way into," says Al
Lee, director of quantitative analysis for PayScale, an online provider of employee compensation data.
"Becoming a CEO might be easier than becoming a doctor. You can be a CEO at age 35, when a doctor is just
getting done with training."
Like last year, a career in pharmacy was a top contender. Pharmacist placed second on our list--above lawyers
(No. 3) and physicians and surgeons (No. 6). Female pharmacists earned a median of $1,475 per week and
about $76,500 for the year. Women are flocking to the field, now holding almost half of pharmacist positions--and
with good reason. The BLS expects the field to expand faster than most, with pharmacist positions projected to
increase 17% by 2018.
Confused by why physicians and surgeons rank lower than pharmacists? Lee believes it's because the category
is so large. It includes neurosurgeons as well as interns and residents, who make drastically less. Furthermore,
there is a broad array of specialties. Women often choose the lower-paying specialties like family practice and
pediatrics, he says, which brings down the pay average.
Computer programmer, a new addition to the list, came in at No. 7. Women constitute only 21% of the field but
earn nearly equally to men. Female computer programmers earn a median of $62,000 a year, and those in the
top 10% of the field make a salary of $111,000. Some other upsides of the job: Most programmers work standard
40-hour weeks, and telecommuting is becoming more common. Plus, employers typically require only a
bachelor's degree, which is particularly appealing to women who want high earnings without the educational
investment required by fields like medicine or law.
A surprising new entrant, occupational therapists came in at No. 10. This is the only profession on the list
dominated by women, who hold 82% of all positions. It's also the only field in which women earn equally to men.
Occupational therapists typically have a master's degree or higher and earn $1,155 a week, or a median of
$60,000 yearly. They help patients recover or improve basic motor skills so they can perform daily tasks like
dressing, cooking and eating. Plus, it's an in-demand job. Employment is expected to grow 26% by 2018, with
another 26,000 positions created.
The lowest-paying jobs for women were concentrated in the service industry. Launders and dry cleaners
($362/week), waiters ($363/week), child-care workers (364/week) and maids ($371/week) were not only the
lowest-paying jobs; they were predominantly filled by women.
PayScale's Lee says technical and in-demand fields are women's best bet for earning good money. "There are
lots of women out there who could be in these fields, but if women decide to teach math instead of going into
computer programming, they've left money on the table."

APROPO : It is important to know the two Q's as you build out your network: quality and quantity. But have
you considered the importance of having a well-rounded network?
In this job market, having a strong network is critical to your professional survival. There are plenty of tips and
articles on where to find people, how and when to connect to them and even what you need to say to attract and
maintain your network. This article focuses on who should be in your network.

Here are the top 10 people that should be in your network:

1. The Mentor: This is the person who has reached the level of success you aspire to have. You can learn from
their success as well as their mistakes. Heed their wisdom and experience. This relationship offers a unique
perspective because they have known you through several peaks and valleys in your life and watched you
evolve.
2. The Coach: The coach is someone who comes in at different times in your life. They help with critical
decisions and transitions and offer an objective perspective with no strings attached.
3. The Industry Insider: This is someone in your chosen field who has expert-level information or access to it.
This person will keep you informed of what's happening now and what the next big thing is. Invite them to be a
sounding board for your next innovative idea.
4. The Trendsetter: This is someone outside of your chosen industry who always has the latest buzz. It can be
on any topic that you find interesting. The goal in having this person in your network is to look for those
connections that spark innovation via the unconventional. It will also help you keep your conversations
interesting.
5. The Connector: This is a person who has access to people, resources and information. As soon as they
come across something related to you, they are sending you an e-mail or picking up the phone. Connectors are
great at uncovering unique ways to make connections, finding resources and opportunities that most people
would overlook.
6. The Idealist: This is the person in your network you can dream with. No matter how "out there" your latest
idea is, this is the person who will help you brainstorm ways to make it happen. Without judgment, they are
focused on helping you flesh out your dreams in high definition, even if you don't have a solid plan yet on how to
make it happen.
7. The Realist: On the flip side, you still need the person who will help you keep it real. This is the person who
will give you the raised eyebrow when your expectations exceed your effort. These are not people who knock
down your dreams, rather they challenge you to actively make your dream happen.
8. The Visionary: Visionary people inspire you by their journey. They are similar to the Idealist, but the visionary
can help you envision an actual plan to reach your goal. One personal encounter with this type of person can
powerfully change the direction of your thinking and life.

9. The Partner: You need to have someone who is in a similar place and on a similar path to share with. In fact,
partners do a lot of sharing. This is a person you can share the wins and woes with. Partners will also share
resources, opportunities and information.
10. The Wanna-Be: This is someone you can serve as mentor to. Someone you can help shape and guide
based on your experiences. One of the best ways to tell that you understand something is to be able to explain it
to someone else. And sometimes, one of the best motivators for pushing through obstacles and hardship is
knowing that someone is watching.
Obviously you will want to have more than 10 people in your network. The trick is to make sure you are building
a diverse network by adding people from different industries, backgrounds, age groups, ethnic groups, etc.
that fit into the roles listed above. Building a deep network by only including people from your current profession
or business focus leaves too many stones unturned, limiting potential opportunities.