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Picking a college major can be stressful for students, especially if they enter college undecided. Dr. Leslie Tucker, owner of Virtual College Consulting, will provide the College Scoops community with tips and tricks on how to pick a college major. If you are a student struggling to pick a major, Leslie Tucker is here to help.
Key Takeaways:
- Online discussion forums gave students the ability to engage with class material as it acted as a safe space for productive dialogue
- Going into college undecided is okay. There are many strategies a student can utilize in order to narrow down their major choices.
- If you are undecided try the following exercise. Sit down with a piece of paper and create two lists: on the first list write down all the things you love to do and on the second list write down all the things you’re good at. Once both lists are complete, take a look at those lists side by side and notice the similarities between them. Highlight those similarities (ex. I love to read) and think if there are any potential career paths relating to that field (ex. Publisher, book editor, etc).
- Shadowing people and taking online courses can help students understand whether or not they should pursue a certain major
- YouTube and SkillShare are wonderful resources students can use to hone in on their interests
- Students should reach out to professors and the career center at their respective colleges if they’re struggling to pick a major
- Typically people are either good at STEM or the Social Sciences, so understanding which of these areas you excel in will assist in the process of determining your major
Important Resources and Links:
Meet Dr. Leslie Tucker
Dr. Leslie Tucker is a virtual college planning consultant and owner of Virtual College Consulting. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s in Higher Education Administration and a Ph.D. in Post-Secondary Education. Before her work as a college planning consultant, she worked in higher education as an academic advisor, program advisor and student success and retention coordinator. She still enjoys teaches Educational Psychology part-time. Leslie is an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and trained as a Life and Career Coach through the Institute for Life Coach Training. She’s toured hundreds of colleges, networked with admissions reps from across the country, and edited every type of college essay you can imagine. She speaks at national conferences about student success and college retention—which in turn empowers her college planning work.
Thank you to Leslie Tucker for joining us today to help students who are struggling to pick a major. Entering college undecided can seem a bit daunting, but it is not something to fear. Remember to utilize online resources, such as YouTube and Skillshare, in order to narrow down your major choices. Additionally, partaking in self-reflection and creating actionable goals can assist students during this process. College is a time for self-exploration and growth, thus going into college undecided can benefit students who need extra time to determine their passion and interests.
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