MAPS
Do I Need to Know More About Myself?
Self-knowledge is the foundation of effective decision-making. It is unlikely that you can make a satisfying choice of an academic major without knowing yourself well. Can you answer the following questions?
What do I want?
Goals are your ultimate destinations. What do you want to achieve? Where do you wish to go with your life? If you don't know where you're going, you probably won't get there.
What is important to me?
Values include both personal and work-related values. You should select a major and a career that means something to you. Do you enjoy helping people? Is it important for you to be independent? Creative? Do you crave power? Money? These are all examples of values.
What do I like?
Interests describe what you like. What do you really enjoy doing? Do you like working with people or machines or abstract concepts? What classes do you most enjoy? Usually, the more you enjoy something, the better you do it and the easier it is to motivate yourself.
What do I do well?
Skills are abilities you currently possess. Don't shortchange yourself here. Everyone has certain skills. Your mission is to understand what you can do well and how to apply it to academics and work. Can you understand what you read? How good are you with math? Can you write well? Can you convince people to do what you want them to do? These are all examples of skills.
What can I learn to do well?
Abilities help you adapt to change. To keep pace in an ever-changing society, your ability to learn new or different skills is critical. Darwin's Theory of Evolution really does apply to the World of Work. Adapt to change, or be left behind.
Do I have the drive to achieve my goals?
Motivation is composed of equal parts perseverance, ambition, and determination. You will face obstacles on the road to your goals. Can you overcome them? Values and interests are critically important components of motivation.
What can I do to find out more about myself?
The summer before you arrive:
Enroll in PACES - the free Personal, Academic, Career Exploration Seminar
Review the following Career Development web sites:
- http://www.d.umn.edu/student/loon/car/self/career_transfer_survey.html
- http://www.usas.ohio-state.edu/exp/exp_puzzle.htm
- http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/career/process/competen.html
- http://www.keirsey.com/
- http://web.missouri.edu/~cppcwww/planlinks.shtml
- http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/counseling/counseling .shtml
- http://www.review.com/career/article.cfm?id=career\car_quiz_intro
- http://www.careerkey.org/english
During Semester 1:
Take the following free self-assessments at SHIP:
- Self-Directed Search: (Division of Undeclared Majors, Horton Hall, x1395)
- Myers-Briggs (Counseling Center, Wright Hall, x1481) (Division of Undeclared Majors, Horton Hall, x1395)
- Strong Interest Inventory (Counseling Center, Wright Hall, x1481)
- Discover (Career Development Center, CUB, x1484)
Work with your advisor/counselor to interpret the results of your assessments.Do these results reveal a consistent pattern?
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