MAP IV
Narrowing Down Your Choices
Congratulations on completing your first year at Shippensburg! Were you surprised by how much you learned and how fast the year went by? The time is fast approaching for you to declare your major. You must declare your major by the middle of next semester! If you wish to declare an 'impacted' major (criminal justice, communications-journalism, education, social work, biology, psychology--majors that require higher GPAs or a screening interview) you must declare within the first TWO WEEKS of next semester. You have no time to waste. What can you do this summer to reach a decision? Ask yourself:
Do I need to take courses during the summer to 'catch up,' 'get ahead,' or improve an 'F' or 'D' grade? Am I aware of the different rules governing courses taken at SHIP vs. courses taken elsewhere for transfer to SHIP? Have I checked with my advisor before I take summer courses? He/she may save me wasted time and effort.
Did your grades over the past year help you identify your:
- Academic strengths and weaknesses?
- Interests, preferences, and motivation?
- Skills and abilities?
- Values?
Interest & Motivation are closely related.Did you enjoy going to class? Did you enjoy studying the material?Did the instructor make the class appealing, or did the content alone interest you?Make sure you appreciate the class for its content--you won't always have the same instructor to motivate you.Make sure you choose a major that motivates you to work hard and succeed.Just 'showing up' won't cut it in today's competitive world.
Values are key components of interest and motivation.Did you consider a particular class to be more worthwhile than others?Your major and your career should mean something to you.You must consider them important and valuable. They must fulfill you in some way.If your major/career fulfills your values, motivation will follow.
Preferences--Did you prefer courses that focused on people, data, ideas, or things? Identifying your preferences can help you choose a major or a career
Goals--Every journey begins with a goal. As the old saying goes, "If you don't know where you're going, you probably won't get there."Anticipating the future can make planning easier in the present.If you have a specific career goal in mind, all that remains for you to do is to determine which major will be most helpful in achieving that particular career goal.Some vocationally-oriented careers require specific majors (engineering, nursing, teaching).However, most careers will accept a variety of majors because acquiring the skills necessary to do a job well is more important than completing a specific major. Choose a major you will enjoy.The more you enjoy what you're doing, the more motivated you will be to excel.
Ability--Did the class come relatively easy to you, or did you have to work hard?Did you enjoy the challenge of the class or did you resent the hard work involved?Did you spend so much time studying for a good grade in one class that it hurt your performance in other classes?
Skills-What skills did the class require in order for you to do well?Were the skills connected with working with people, data, ideas, or things?Do you have those skills?Can you improve them?What skills do you like using?
For lists of values, interests, skills, etc, you may reference several web sites listed in this brochure, or visit the Career Development Center (CUB) or the Division of Undeclared Majors (Horton Hall).
What skills do employers require?
|
Skills |
Definition |
Defining Characteristics |
|
Communication |
The ability to persuade and to understand other views. |
Writing Speaking Listening |
|
Analytical |
The ability to reason, to separate fact from fiction based on evidence, and to develop solutions to problems. |
Thinking Understanding Problem-Solving |
|
Computer |
The ability to use technology to access information in new and creative ways to aid in making decisions and achieving the mission |
Accessing & Processing Information Making Presentations Word-processing, spreadsheets Keeping up with constant change |
|
Managerial |
Insuring that people work together as smoothly and efficiently as possible |
Coordinating Prioritizing Planning Improving Interpersonal Relationships |
|
Leadership |
Getting people to do what you want them to do; focusing people on accomplishing the mission; setting and achieving goals |
Accepting Responsibility Motivating Providing Initiative Delegating Setting the Example |
|
Adaptability |
Changing with the times |
Learning new skills Embracing change |
|
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