Choosing A Major

Prevailing myths about the value and purpose of certain academic majors can negatively affect your student’s process of choosing a major. These myths can confuse students and family members alike. Click on any of the myths listed below to discover the CEC’s perspective. magnifying glass

Three Common Myths

Students are at a disadvantage if they enter college as undeclared, or change their major several times.
Each major leads to either a specific career or to a very defined set of career options.
Liberal arts students are less successful than students who major in business, engineering, or some other professional field.

How Parents and Family Can Help:

Remind your student of past activities and accomplishments. For example, if your student shows you his/her career testing results, use them as a "memory ticker." Remind your student of times in the past when those interests were evident, those values expressed, those skills developed, those personality preferences brought into play.

Encourage an open mind. If your student mentions a possible interest in a certain major, look through the online course catalog together. Read the course descriptions. Encourage your student to keep an open mind about the perceived practicality or popularity of the major. Help your student to reflect on whether the coursework looks appealing and interesting.

Model keeping an open mind. If your student becomes interested in a major that is unfamiliar to you or makes you apprehensive, demonstrate how to be receptive to new information. Listen to what makes the major seem appealing. Discuss how to get further information. Help your student to be able to address your questions and concerns.

Help your student plan next steps. Visit the websites of the academic departments of interest to your student. Download degree plans from the department’s website to learn about the specific academic requirements of the majors. Your student can take this information to an academic advisor for further discussion. Also, your student can meet with a career counselor, or use this website to get more information about the connection between major choice and career options.

How The CEC Can Help

Counseling

In-depth 45-minute sessions with professional career counselors.
No extra charge. Counseling is covered by your student’s tuition.
Topics for discussion might include: choosing or changing a major, career, UT college or school; exploring career options; identifying obstacles such as competition, grades, economic situation; figuring out whether to go to graduate school and how to apply.

Career Testing

Must meet with a counselor first to determine if the student is interested in career testing and which tests would prove most helpful.
Nominal fees for career testing range from $7 to $65. In the private sector, the administration and professional interpretation of these career tests might range from $100 to $1000.

CEC library

Faculty/Staff Contacts Database helps students meet with professionals who share their academic or professional interests.
"What Can I Do with a Major in…" booklets illustrate career options that are associated with various majors at UT-Austin. These booklets are available at the CEC and on-line. The CEC also has a large number of books about majors and careers in its library.

This is just a sampling of the resources and services we offer to help students explore and choose a major. Please encourage your student to visit the CEC to learn about all the ways we can help.

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