Exploratory students often ask "How can I be sure I am
making the right major choice?" The best way to choose
the right major is by making a very well-informed decision.
And, there are three areas in which you should learn more
before making your decision: (1) yourself,
(2) the academic aspects of IU majors, and (3) career-related
aspects of majors.
This decision-making flow chart shows the
fundamental steps that will lead you to a good decision about
your major by gathering needed information, evaluating the
information, and finally making that well-informed decision.
Be sure to contact Exploratory Student Resources and/or your
University Division Academic Advisor for assistance in each
step. It will also be a good idea to look at your fall and
spring semester calendar and set dates for completion of
each step. Ideally, you will be starting your exploration
at the beginning of the fall semester. Whenever you are getting
started, however, you should set a date for each step so that
you will have at least completed the "Narrow your choices" step
by your next pre-registration appointment and completed the
process with your major decision by the following
pre-registration time. You should also refer to the Anytime Checklist for Exploration
Activities for a more detailed checklist of steps.
In order to learn what information
you will need, where to find it on campus, how to analyze
your alternatives, and finally how to make your major choice - contact Exploratory Student Resources or check the web site
for a list of dates for the Choosing Your Major workshops
and attend a workshop to get started.
1: Develop a "long" list of all the majors you should explore
Meet with your academic advisor.
Meet with an IU career counselor: call 855-1556 to schedule an appointment.
Use the SIGI Plus interactive computer software: call 855-0527 to reserve a time.
Seek input from family, friends, teachers, etc.
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2: Gather preliminary information
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3: Evaluate your "long" list of alternatives
- Eliminate majors you are 100% sure you should
- Set up t-square (+ and -) charts for all remaining majors
- Use other decision-making techniques
- Meet with your academic advisor for more help
- Contact Exploratory Student Resources (explore@indiana.edu) for help
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4: Narrow your choice to a "short" list
- Based on evaluation results, decide which majors you will explore further
- You should narrow your choices to 3-4 majors, no more than 6
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5: Gather more detailed Information
- Review degree requirements for majors on your "short" list
- Read course descriptions for these majors
- Meet with advisors and professors in these major departments
- Meet with PreMed or PreLaw advisors if interested in these fields
- Meet with people working in potential career fields
- Conduct more research in career libraries on campus
- Visit Helpful Links
- Attend on-campus fairs and expos (http://www.indiana.edu/~udiv/majors/fairsandexpos.html)
- Continue your personal journal entries
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6: Evaluate alternative on your "short" list
- Enter additional data on your t-square charts
- Enter additional data on your other decision-making tools
- Review evaluation tool results (get help from your advisor or ESR)
- Review your personal journal entries
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7: Choose your major and minors
- Decide which major you will pursue
- Consider pursuing minors in the other fields on your "short" list
- Meet with your advisor to plan admission to your chosen major (http://www.indiana.edu/~udivrec/html/certification.html)
- Submit Declaration of Major form at UD Records Office (MX 057)
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