Find Your Interest Before Choose A Major

Before you can figure out where you’re going, it helps to understand who you are. With the help of some quick and easy exercises in this chapter and the two that follow, you’ll take a look at yourself and what matters most to you. You’ll examine your priorities from several different angles:
● Your interests
● Your favorite high school courses
● Your skills

Each time you draw conclusions about your priorities, you’ll get immediate
feedback in terms of college majors and related careers that you should
consider.

Your Interests: The Six Holland Types
Surely you have been in a situation where you attended an event, switched
to a TV channel, or picked up a piece of reading matter that you found
boring—knowing all the while that other people found it fascinating.
Different people have different interests.

Becoming aware of your interests is an important first step in career planning.
If your work tasks, work settings, and the information you use on the job are
interesting to you, you are more likely to be happy and successful in your job.

One of the most useful ways of looking at work-related interests is in the terms that were
developed by the researcher John L. Holland in the early 1950s. Analyzing the results
of interest inventories, Holland found it helpful for people to compare themselves to
six major interest types that he devised. (The Holland types are often referred to as personality
types because they are sometimes applied to more than just career choice.

But for the purposes of this book we’re going to discuss them as interests.)
The terms Holland used for his six types may not be immediately clear to
you when you first encounter them. That’s why it helps to read these definitions:

The Holland Types Defined
Realistic 
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities
that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world
materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the
occupations require working outside and do not involve a
lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Investigative 
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with
ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. These
occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring
out problems mentally.

Artistic 
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with
forms, designs, and patterns. They often require selfexpression
and the work can be done without following a
clear set of rules.

Social 
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating
with, and teaching people. These occupations
often involve helping or providing service to others.

Enterprising 
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up
and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve
leading people and making many decisions. They sometimes
require risk taking and often deal with business.

Conventional 
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set
procedures and routines. These occupations can include
working with data and details more than with ideas.
Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.


Perhaps you already know what Holland types describe you best, either
based on the earlier definitions or because you have taken an assessment
that has had its results reported as Holland types. If so, you can skip the
next section and go to “Relating Interest Types to College Majors and
Careers” on page 12. But if you are not clear about how to characterize
your interests in Holland’s terms, try the following exercise.


The following checklist contains Holland’s six work-related interest types
and examples of activities for each. Think about which interest type
includes one or more activities that have the greatest appeal to you. Keep in
mind that these are only examples, not an exhaustive list of every activity of
that type. You may know you are greatly interested in an activity of this
type that is not listed among the examples. (For example, you may be interested
in an art form not listed under Artistic.) Similarly, you can choose an
interest type as the one that describes you even if you’re not interested in all
the activities listed. Many people have diverse interests; feel free to choose
one or two types that might be of secondary interest to you.
In the blank spaces to the left, write a “1” to indicate your dominant interest
type. You may also write a “2” or “3” to indicate other interest types
that feature activities that interest you, but not as much as your principal type.


INTERESTS CHECKLIST
Realistic: Putting out forest fires; laying brick or tile; growing
Christmas trees in a nursery; testing the quality of parts before shipment;
enforcing fish and game laws; refinishing furniture; applying
pesticides and fertilizers to plants.

Investigative: Making a map of the bottom of an ocean; determining
the infection rate of a new disease; investigating crimes;
studying the governments of different countries; inventing a replacement
for sugar; diagnosing and treating sick animals; studying ways
to reduce water pollution.

Artistic: Playing a musical instrument; creating special effects for
movies; writing reviews of books or plays; dancing in a Broadway
show; designing artwork for magazines; announcing a radio show;
painting sets for plays.

Social: Teaching children how to read; helping people with
family-related problems; organizing activities at a recreational facility;
working with juveniles on probation; helping disabled people improve
their skills for daily living; helping conduct a group therapy session;
teaching children how to play sports.


Enterprising: Giving a presentation about a product you are selling;
managing a department within a large company; marketing a
new line of clothing; negotiating business contracts; selling houses;
managing the operations of a hotel; buying and selling stocks and
bonds.

Conventional: Organizing and scheduling office meetings; inventorying
supplies using a hand-held computer; taking notes during a
meeting; developing a spreadsheet using computer software; assisting
senior-level accountants in performing bookkeeping tasks; maintaining
employee records; using a word processor to edit and format documents.
Read More: Find Your Interest Before Choose A Major

Factors That Should Be Part of the Decision Choosing A Major

The goal of this book is to help you choose a major and a career simultaneously, and to make your choice one that offers the best chances of satisfying you. You’ll go through a series of exercises to clarify your interests, skills, and favorite high school courses. All of these are important factors in the decision—but before you look at those concerns, here are some other factors you’ll probably want to consider.

Time and Expense Required
Some of the majors included in this book take longer than others to bear fruit as a career. People seeking careers in medicine, law, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and (sometimes) clergy must complete years of postgraduate study and on-the-job training to earn professional status.

These jobs tend to pay well or (in the case of clergy) have other outstanding rewards, but before you commit yourself to pursue one of these career goals, you have to be sure you have the determination and ability to go through the long preparatory process. The same is true of careers such as
college teaching that require a master’s or doctoral degree. You need to be confident that you will enjoy the major itself, not just the rewards at the
end of the road, because it will be a long road, and college tuition keeps
getting more and more expensive.

Some of the careers listed here require more than just a degree. For managerial
jobs in particular, college graduates are expected to gain some experience
in the workplace, learn the language of the industry, acquire people
skills that usually aren’t taught in college classrooms, and demonstrate their
readiness through some temporary managerial assignments. Don’t plan on a
managerial career unless you are willing to pay your dues as a management
trainee.

In some cases, a career linked to one of these majors may not actually
require four years of college. For example, this book includes Agricultural
Technicians, Food Science Technicians, Chemical Technicians, and several
other technician-level jobs that you can enter with an associate degree.

Some other jobs, such as Cost Estimators, Food Service Managers, Fish and
Game Wardens, and Sketch Artists, are open to people who have gained
work experience in related occupations or who get long-term on-the-job
training. For these jobs a college education is not always necessary, but the

degree may save you considerable time in getting ahead and may pave the
way to further advancement or career shifts not open to those who lack the
degree.

The time and expense of getting a college degree can also pay off later in
ways that have nothing to do with your career. What you have learned in
college may enable you to appreciate a well-designed building, an outstanding
movie, or a nature walk better than someone without that background.

A vacation in a foreign country, a story on the evening news, or a conversation
with a stranger may connect with things you have learned in your
major so that the experience is much more meaningful.

Competition
Rewarding careers often attract large numbers of job-seekers. The competition
can begin in college or, for some careers, even earlier. As part of the
decision about a major and a career, you need to get a realistic sense of your
chances of entering and succeeding in the job.

If you are already enrolled in college, you may get some answers from the
staff of the career development office or from experienced faculty in the
major you are considering. If you are not yet enrolled in college, consider
that what recruiters tell you may be slanted as a sales pitch. Confirm what
you hear by asking other sources, such as recent graduates, and be sure to
ask about the college’s recent job-placement track record for your intended
major.

Of course, you may face competition long before you hit the job market.
Some majors limit the number of people who enroll and admit only highperforming
students. If you pursue a graduate or professional degree, expect

competition for entry. Professional schools generally create a climate where,
once admitted, students work hard but can expect to complete their degree
(although often they compete for the best job prospects); many graduate
departments, on the other hand, limit the number of students who are
allowed to proceed beyond the master’s degree into the doctoral program.
Graduate students also compete for financial aid, such as fellowships that
may pay a stipend.

So as you make plans, you need to decide whether you have the drive and
the ability to withstand the competition that you will face. Talk to people
currently in the program and measure your past grades and test scores
against their backgrounds. Ask people in the workforce what it takes to
succeed. If you expect a small but significant possibility of failure, consider
how well you accept risk and construct an alternative plan in case your
original goal does not work out. Many people have found success and happiness
in their “plan-B” careers.
Read More: Factors That Should Be Part of the Decision Choosing A Major

A Major College

Deciding on a major is a big step, but you may be relieved to know that you’re not signing your life away when you decide. Most majors allow some flexibility to tailor your classes to your particular interests. And if the major doesn’t work out for you, you can switch majors at a later time.
Let’s begin the process of decision making by looking at what some of your options are.

What Is a Major?
A college major is an organized program of study with some specific requirements that you must complete. Usually the program of study focuses on a subject, and the academic requirements are designed so that you gain some in-depth knowledge of that subject. Typically the subject that is the
focus of the major is the same as the department offering the major (e.g.,
accounting, English, chemistry, or sociology), but many colleges offer interdisciplinary
majors, such as American Studies, that bridge several departments.

Even majors that are aligned with a specific department have
requirements from other departments to help you understand your main
focus of interest. If the goal of the major is to prepare you for a specific
career that you can pursue once you have your degree in hand, the major
often includes a certain amount of supervised work experience. Majors that
are less career-oriented and more academically oriented often include at
least one course on research methods.

Some colleges offer majors with names such as “General Studies” that have
few specific requirements. But, as most students do, this book focuses on
the connection between majors and careers, and, therefore, most of the
majors described here have required courses that equip you with knowledge
and skills that you’ll use on the job.

Four-year colleges typically require you to declare your major by the end of
your sophomore year, but you should start thinking about your choice even
before you apply to college. You may need to state your intended major

when you apply for admission to college. And having some idea of your
intended major may also help you decide on a college, because many
majors are taught considerably better at some colleges than at others. For
the particular major you have in mind, one college may have more experienced
instructors, more course offerings, better access to instructors, major
requirements better suited to careers, better-equipped labs, better library
collections, better academic advisors, or better connections with employers.

Another reason to plan your major before you are required to declare it is
that some majors are not open to just anyone who expresses interest. They
may have specific entry requirements that you need to complete in high
school and during your first two years of college, and there may even be
competition for entry, meaning that your grades have to be better than simply
getting by.

What About Concentrations, Minors, and Double Majors?
Majors that are highly career-oriented may give you few opportunities to
choose courses that reflect your interests. For example, in some health care
fields a professional association or licensing requirements mandate most of
the courses you’ll take.

In most majors, however, you can select courses to emphasize an aspect of
the subject that interests you—such as ancient history as opposed to modern;
nuclear physics as opposed to optics; or international business management
as opposed to domestic. Sometimes the department sets the course
requirements for the major to reflect two or more possible “concentrations”
or “tracks.” For each major included in chapter 6, you can find some of the
most popular concentrations listed under the topic Specializations in the
Major. Obviously your career goal is an important consideration when you
choose a concentration within a major.

Of course, it is possible that you have a special interest that is not well represented
by any of the concentrations in the major. For example, you might
be interested in geology and dismayed to discover that the department does
not have a concentration in French. In that case, you may consider doing a
minor in the second subject or a double major in the two subjects.


Concentrations
A concentration within a major is not simply a matter of which courses you
take within the department offering the major. Often a concentration will

lead you to take appropriate supporting courses in other departments. For
example, an economics major who concentrates in econometrics will probably
take additional courses offered by the mathematics and computer science
departments, whereas one who concentrates in applied economics will
probably take additional business courses.

Students who have a very clear idea of their career goals may create do-ityourself
concentrations by choosing appropriate courses from departments
outside their major. For example, a religious studies major who intends to
do missionary work in Latin America may take courses in Spanish and
Latin American history. A human resources major who intends to do
industrial training may take courses in educational psychology.

Minors
If you have a strong interest in some area outside the department of your
major, you may be able to minor in that other subject. A minor is a set of
course requirements that amount to less than a major but that still put you
on record as having some depth of knowledge of that field. By combining a
major and a minor, you may create a particular niche for yourself in the
working world that makes you attractive to employers. For example, with
a major in chemistry and a minor in business, you may be a strong candidate
for a sales job with a pharmaceuticals company. With a major in
journalism and a minor in physics, you may become the science writer for
a newspaper.

Double Majors
In some cases, it may be possible to pursue a double major—that is, to
complete the requirements for two majors. This is most feasible when both
majors do not load your schedule with large numbers of required courses.
If both majors allow for many freely chosen courses (these are called “electives”),
you may be able to satisfy the requirements for both.

Some people combine interests by studying one subject in college and a different
one in graduate or professional school. For example, most social
workers and librarians are expected to enter the workforce with a master’s
degree, but master’s programs in social work do not require you to major in
the same subject as an undergraduate, and master’s programs in library science
actively discourage it. Medical schools require applicants to have completed
certain science and math courses as undergraduates, but it is possible
to fit these courses into many majors, and a well-rounded academic background
may give you an advantage over other applicants.
Read More: A Major College