Choosing your Major

Assessment Resources:

• Strong Interest Inventory: This on-line interest inventory has become the most popular assessment to use with other undeclared students and major changers. The in-depth profile includes information on top interest areas, occupations, and potential majors. Please contact our office for the password to access this inventory. It takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, and is followed up with a 45-minute interpretation. 
• MyMajors inventory: My Majors asks you to answer questions about your values and experiences. After it analyzes this data, it suggests five majors that match your interests and academic experience. The information provided includes areas of study and career opportunities for your majors. It’s fun, easy to use, and it’s free. Bring your profile into your career advisor for more assistance!

Steps for Choosing Your Major:

1. Consider taking a self-assessment to understand you values, interests, personality, and skills. Stop by the career services office or contact your career advisor to learn more.
2. Evaluate your past experiences: What courses did you enjoy in high school? What extracurricular activities did you like participating in? What types of part-time or summer jobs did you hold that you enjoyed?
3. Explore Careers: From your assessments, you may have generated a list of occupations. You may also have some jobs in mind, but aren’t exactly sure what the day-to-day would look like. The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a great resource for detailed occupational listings. Simply go to the listing of alphabetical occupations (halfway down the screen) and find your job title. Review the description of multiple jobs to see which ones you could see yourself in.
4. Review Champlain’s majors: You can learn so much from course descriptions and program overviews on the college’s major sites. Make a list of courses that look interesting to you and see if a pattern develops for one of the divisions or majors.
5. Check out the Career Services web site for more major specific information.
6. Connect with program directors to learn more about the curricula and opportunities.
7. Meet with Julie Richards in the ARC to choose a major when you are ready!