OPS Newsletters
MythBusters is a favorite television show for many. Stunt experts Jamie and Adam along with their stouthearted test dummy “Buster” examine myths in light of scientific fact. One such episode debunks the notion that a Mentos candy and Coca Cola cocktail would cause a stomach to explode. Just as urban legends abound, there are also myths that need to be busted surrounding the process and impact of choosing a college major. Consider a few of these myth busters:
Myth 1: Changing a major is uncommon.
Reality: On average, four out of five students will change their major at least once in their college career. One of the benefits of having a liberal arts education is exposure to a variety of disciplines. Through Pacific’s core requirements, students are introduced to new disciplines that may otherwise have remained hidden. After becoming acquainted with various fields of study, students may discover an entirely new arena that piques their interest and curiosity leading to a different course of study than they originally embarked upon.
Myth 2: First-year students must declare a major upon admission.
Reality: Students at Pacific University declare their major at the end of their sophomore year. The catalog states that students must complete the following steps to declare a major:
Complete a “Proposed Program Evaluation Request” from the Registrar’s Office and receive a print-out of the “Proposed Program.”
Confer with new and old advisors and have them sign off on the “Proposed Program.”
Submit the signed “Proposed Program” to the Registrar’s Office. This proposal is now the official declaration.
The Registrar’s Office prepares an official academic evaluation for the newly declared major to view on Boxer Online. This outlines what classes have been taken to meet the required classes for the major and what classes still need to be taken.
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Myth 3: A major determines career.
Reality: Many employers require a four year degree but not a specific major. Some job postings will indicate a certain major is preferred, but in the end, related qualifications and experience will be the deciding factor. Employers value recent college graduates because they are likely to possess competencies such as strong communication skills, computer acumen, and sound research methods. With emerging technologies and the information explosion, students with a four year degree can legitimately claim that they know how to learn and have the wherewithal to acquire new skills. According to Pennsylvania State University, within ten years after graduation, most people are working in careers that aren’t directly related to their undergraduate major. This is not to say that major doesn’t matter, but it’s not the only variable in the career equation. It is important for all students to consciously take steps to connect their educations to a career plan, which means doing careful research and exploring careers during college—regardless of how closely his or her major seems to align or not align with particular careers: The biology major is not guaranteed a job as a biologist, nor is the history major required to be a historian. Choices and effort are needed.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) lists the top qualities employers are looking for, which include:
(based on a 5-point scale in which 1 = unimportant and 5 = important)
Communication skills 4.69
Honesty/integrity 4.59
Teamwork skills 4.54
Interpersonal skills 4.50
Strong work ethic 4.46
Motivation/initiative 4.42
Flexibility/adaptability 4.41
Analytical skills 4.36
Computer skills 4.21
Conscientious parents can take pride in the fact that they recognize these as the same qualities they have instilled in their child through the years: honesty, respect for self and others, working hard, thinking before acting, personal responsibility, and taking initiative. And the good news for the liberal arts student is that these same competencies are fine-tuned by any major. Employers are seeking to hire people with the qualities that have been nurtured at home along with the skills fostered by a liberal arts education.
According to a longitudinal study from 1979 through 2005 conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American adult held an average of 10.5 jobs from ages 18 to 40. So the question is no longer what major will help my child enter the world of work, but rather, how can one become career resilient/adaptable in the new work force? In a recent research project looking at predictors of reemployment following job loss, Gowan and Lepak (2007) found that people with skills in narrow technical fields were at risk of becoming obsolete. Their findings suggest that to be “career resilient” one must have more broad and portable skills such as the ability to manage people and systems in addition to specific training. The liberal arts education fosters the development of such broad and portable skills. Once again, more good news for the liberal arts graduate with any major: they are developing a broad skill set necessary to be resilient in the ever-changing world of work.
Myth 4: It’s difficult to gather information on a major.
Reality: Resources abound at Pacific University about the various majors. One of the benefits of attending a small university is access to faculty, staff, alumni, career advisors, and upper-class students who have an inside perspective on the various majors.
Faculty: Undecided students can set up appointments to meet with faculty across various disciplines during office hours to discuss the specifics of their discipline. Faculty advisors are key resources when deciding a major. The College of Arts and Sciences hosts a website organized by majors that includes faculty comments on “What I would say to a student considering this major.” Once a student decides upon a major, they will choose an advisor in that discipline.
Alumni: The Pacific Alumni Career Network is a database with over 1000 alumni willing and able to speak with students about their major and their career path. The Career Network is available at the Career Resource Center located in Chapman Hall and will soon be available on the Web.
Career Advisors: Students may schedule an appointment to discuss how the various majors differ and consider how they might relate to various professions and/or fulfill pre-requisites for graduate programs.
Major Handouts: “What Can I Do With a Major In…?” are available for all the majors at Pacific. This connects majors with skills learned, related professions, possible industries, and professional associations. These handouts are available in the Career Resource Center.
Registrar’s Office: As keepers of the transcript, this important office tracks the academic progress of students and can advise as to what a student has taken and which classes meet the requirements for which majors.
Catalog: Coursework is a true indicator of the content which distinguishes the various majors. The Pacific catalog is online and hardcopies are available at Knight Hall.
Visit classes: There is not enough time for a student to enroll in all the various classes to sample different majors before they declare a major. In addition to enrolling in classes of interest, they may also visit classes. Student should check with faculty before visiting.
Sophomore Majorfest: This festive annual event sets the stage for sophomores to discuss majors with faculty and upper-class students representing the various majors. The Registrar is on hand to help students declare their major. The Career Center provides information on connecting majors with careers and how to gain practical experience before graduation.
Myth 5: The ‘wrong’ major will disqualify a candidate from graduate school.
Reality: Most graduate schools require coursework and ability rather than particular majors. And for those graduate programs that do prefer a particular major, most will have a special admit status that requires the student without the desired major to take summer classes or offer pre-admission classes to get them to level. Law schools will admit students with any major, as do medical schools—the caveat being that the pre-requisite classes have been met, high admission test scores reported, excellent personal statement prepared, strong letters of recommendation submitted, along with transcripts that meet the grade.
Graduate schools publish their pre-requisites, as well as deadlines, on their websites and in their catalogs. They also note admissions tests needed, essays required, and percentage of applicants admitted. Ideally, a student will incorporate these pre-requisites into their coursework, and for some it is obvious that they are best suited by a particular major. But it is not too late for those who feel called to a particular profession after they graduated in a major from another discipline. Graduates can enroll in classes necessary to fulfill the admissions requirements. There are many graduate programs that prefer to admit students with life experience and a demonstrated interest in the field they are entering. Applicants typically become more competitive with a few years of relevant experience under their belt before they apply to graduate school.
Consider decision styles. The student with a decisive personality is more likely to choose quickly. At times the decisive student should be nudged to consider other options. On the other hand, the student who likes to keep his/her options open may need encouragement to take the plunge and commit to a major. Both the decisive and reluctant student will benefit from the facts about the different majors.
Avoid secondhand dreams. Take care not to impose a career or major course of study that you wish you had pursued or that a sibling is in. Passing along secondhand dreams is a temptation to resist and it rarely works anyway.
Experience matters. Encourage your child to obtain experience to supplement his or her formal education. Experience matters when it’s time to apply to a job or to graduate school. The Career Center brokers many opportunities for job shadows, internships, part-time jobs, work study, community service projects, and summer jobs at many locations.
Gently challenge misperceptions. If students complain that there is not enough information or that it is too difficult to choose a major, remind them about the many resources. Pacific University has many myth-busting points of contact to help students gather the facts necessary to make an informed major choice.
Have high expectations. Continue to have high hopes for what your son or daughter can accomplish no matter what major they choose. They are well on their way to completing a highly prized and well-rounded liberal arts degree. They will amaze you with who they become and what they can do.