By Nicole Talley

"Indecision is a natural part of the process; it's the beginning," Professor Saiful-Islam Abdul-Ahad said to undeclared students trying to choose a major. He and co presenter Cynthia Blecha held a workshop titled "Choosing a College Major and Beyond."

Professor Saif, as students call him, said many of those he counsels as coordinator of the Academic Exploration Program fear choosing a major. Many times, this fear comes from having to narrow down some interests to the exclusion of others, he said. He explained that most students are undeclared but not undecided. They have ideas about what they like to do, but have not yet chosen one course of study, he said.

Saif and Blecha went over four steps to choosing a major:

Self-Assessment means knowing your interests, values, skills and strengths, Saif and Blecha stated. This knowledge can be honed by talking with counselors at the CTC, Career Resource Center, the AEP and other organizations.

Exploration allows you to research possibilities; to find out which major fits you best. You have to know why you chose your major. Employers want to hear you communicate your skills, Blecha said. That will get you a job, she added. "Degrees don't get you jobs, they get you the opportunity to apply for a job," Saif agreed.

"Degrees don't get you jobs, they get you the opportunity to apply for a job"

Experience helps you get a good job. Effective ways to gain experience are internships, co-ops, job shadowing, joining clubs and organizations, related part-time jobs and talking with the pros, Blecha said.

Decision-Making wraps up the process. "Start by crossing off the majors that you know are wrong for you," Blecha said. "Prioritize the rest." You do not have to limit yourself to one major, Saif urged. You can always have a major/minor, double major or major in liberal studies and have three areas of concentration.

"Choosing a Major and Beyond" appeared as a part of the Self Discovery Knights series. This outreach series, created and sponsored by the CTC, covers a variety of topics dealing with student development and self-improvement.

Each presentation is conducted by a different counseling professional. These are interactive events, involving both instructional speeches and question and answer periods.

For further information about the series, contact Dr. Rich McLaughlin at 407-823-2811. Contact Professor Saif through the AEP e-mail , or Cynthia Blecha, through the CTC e-mail . They also listed www.prenhall.com and www.psu.edu as excellent resources.

page created by Carlos Lopez