Page 22 - University of Oregon Parent and Family Guide

CHOOSING A MAJOR
6 Tips for Guiding Your Student
By Amy Baldwin, Ed.D.
Every parent wants their student to find their “calling” and click with a major that will help pave the way to a career. Students want that, too! But the process of declaring a major can be scary as well as exhilarating. “Am I making the right choice?” they wonder. “Will I be able to find a job after graduation?”
Luckily, there are stress- reducing ways to support and guide students who are at this juncture.
the kinds of majors that might interest them. Someone who counseled their friends through difficult times may find themselves interested in psychology or social work. An athlete might gravitate to sports management...or sports medicine.
Encourage them to focus on what they want to learn, not what sounds good. The best way to erase self-doubt is to find a subject they like and that will help them build transferrable skills. Ask what kinds of classes interest them the most and which classes challenge them to think and grow. A student who says they want to major in business “so my parents will leave me alone” is not a student who will be happy with their choice long term.
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Relax. No need to make this experience more fraught than it already is. Remember that it’s normal for the journey from major to career to twist and turn. Make an effort to keep things in perspective and share this attitude with your student.
Have them reflect on their past to figure out their future. Encourage your student to reflect on what they liked when they were younger, what they did in their spare time for fun, and what activities they participated in and why. Their past holds clues about
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