Choosing Careers, Colleges, & Majors

Eighty percent of high-school and college-bound freshman have yet to choose a major. But they are still expected to pick schools, apply to and start degree programs without knowing where they want to end up. It is little wonder 50 percent of those who do declare a major, change majors - with many doing so two and three times during their college years. While it is difficult enough watching children struggle to find their life’s path, it can also be costly. With tuition averaging $13,833 a year at public universities (you can easily double that figure for private colleges and universities), indecisiveness can drain college savings accounts as students restart course sequences or transfer schools - losing credits in the process. Ultimately they risk extending their college days beyond the four years parents planned to finance. According to the College Board, five- and six-year students are not uncommon. Roughly 40 percent of those who start a four-year degree program still have not earned one after year six. With the trends getting worse, even universities are growing concerned. The longer students take to graduate, the fewer the slots there are for new students coming in. Some universities, like the University of Wisconsin, have instituted an ‘excess credit’ surcharge to encourage students to move on with their lives. The surcharge, which kicks in at 30 credits above the 135 normally needed to graduate, doubles a student’s tuition. And other schools are taking note. Most students tend to listen to other people's opinions of what they should do with their lives, rather than our own. They go to college with the intention of getting a job in the end that they can make a lot of money at, and hopefully having some fun in the process. They’re not thinking about the importance of being fulfilled in an occupation where they will spend the majority of their time for the next 45 years. Instead, people encourage them to be successful, to go for money, the status, the big car, the title. But when they get all that, we often find we’re not happy. Little do they realize that if they are fulfilled with their career, they will be passionate about their profession. If they are passionate about their profession, they will generally be good at what they do. And if they are good at what they do, they will be paid well and have job security. Changing majors not only drives up an education’s cost, it also drives down a student’s self-esteem. Encouraging children to think things through before choosing a school or program can help them avoid future frustration, academic let-down or feelings of failure. It is also key to helping them graduate in four years and move into their ‘real’ lives before they out-spend their college savings accounts. Ideally, you should pick a major before you pick a college and then select your college on the basis of those that have a strong program for your chosen major (among other factors). And to get into the best colleges you have to start courting them during your child’s junior (or even sophomore) year! Helping students identify those areas of study best suited for them in terms of their academic capabilities - but even more importantly - their interests, aptitude, and personality is critical. At Truth@Life, I have developed a series of assessments utilizing a student’s responses to questions regarding personal interests, temperaments, value systems, and academic history. These are matched to those majors where they are most likely to find success and satisfaction. Potential majors are linked to a broad range of associated career choices for further investigation. And the choices are much broader than most high school counselors would consider. So if your student needs some guidance before they pick a college, declare a major, switch majors, drive up their educational costs, or even worse – end up in a frustrating or unfulfilling career, I’d love to talk to you personally. Please check out http://truthatlife.com/ for more information or email me directly at curtis.songer@gmail.com