The T.I.G.E.R., or Tie Into Great Educational Resources and Strategies, Series organized a workshop that took place on Wednesday, Nov. 28th to help guide students to their college majors.
Yesterday was the sixth and final series of the semester. It was led by Nikki Brown, coordinator of the Academic Advising and Career Exploration Center and Jullianne Essmiller, her assistant.
AACE Coordinator, Nikki Brown gave a presentation that laid out steps on how to find the right major and what else to look for during a college experience. Photo by McKenzie Wiles/Leader
“In the AACE, it is our job to advise undecided students,” Brown said. “We also help with effective ways to go about exploring whether or not the major you’re in is giving you what you wanted and if it’s what you expect it to be. Sometimes students choose a major, but they don’t exactly know what kinds of jobs they can do with that major, and that’s what we’re here for,” Brown said.
Students can go online to the Fort Hays State university website, search for the Academic Advising and Career Exploration and it will bring them to the website. From there, students can click on the Career Exploration tab and then click on the link titled “What can I do with a Major in.” It gives a list of all the majors at Fort Hays and then tells the student just what jobs are available within that area.
Another option for unsure or undecided students is to do a “What-if” scenario that allows students to look at what they still need for a certain degree or what degree their credits are closest to.
Students can access this by logging onto Tiger Tracks, clicking the “Online Services” tab. Under the degree requirements for undergraduate students, click on “What-If Scenarios.”
In addition to the online resources, Brown and Essmiller gave a step-by-step PowerPoint during the workshop in order to help a student find what major is best for him or her.
The first slide read, “Identify the decision to be made. What should you major in? What don’t you like about your current major? Do you need to have a minor? Would a certificate be helpful?” This is the first step in a process known as a “Career Process.”
The second step went on to looking at what the student likes. It asks students to think about the classes they have taken, what they liked and what they didn’t like.
“Sometimes looking at the classes that you despised or dreaded going to can be a hint,” Brown said.
The second step also included asking students to think about what things they enjoy doing, what their hobbies are and what classes they are best at.
Photo by McKenzie Wiles/Leader
The third step of the Career Process is knowing about on-campus resources.
There is a Major and Career Exploration class, IDS 100, that helps students do in-depth research on majors. It explores what the job market for a specific career looks like. The AACE website is also a source loaded with information and tips on how to choose a major, or make sure the major a student is in is the right one for them.
The fourth and final step is to gather information about majors and careers.
“Talking with advisers and professors will help because they know the course area and maybe there’s a concentration you’re interested in that they know a lot about,” Essmiller said.
Brown and Essmiller informed the students about volunteering for a place they are interested in working. If the student likes numbers and accounting, check with Commerce or Sunflower Bank for entry level positions.
“At least just get in the door,” Brown said. “Sometimes we don’t know if it’s the right fit until we get in the door,” Brown said.
Brown left the group with one final piece of advice.
“Think about the things you are passionate about,” she said. “The things that really draw your interest. Think about when you pick up a magazine, and the articles that you always read when you do.”
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