There are many reasons why students sometimes struggle with decisions about careers and educational choices. These may include: 1) lack of information, 2) lack of confidence, 3) multiple interests, 4) values in conflict, 5) confusing or conflicting goals, 6) lack of interesting options, 7) confusing advice from others, and 8) fear of making the wrong choice or a "bad" decision.

There are many "tests" or "inventories" that can help you organize your thinking. But only you can determine what you will do or what you will be. The instruments used are typically called "inventories". These inventories are used to examine your preferences. Some will examine your interest patterns and group them into meaningful clusters while comparing your pattern with successful people who are in specific occupations. These comparisons can give you some ideas of what occupations seem to be likely possibilities. Other inventories may be used to examine your skills, values or lifestyle and workstyle preferences. If you would like to take these inventories you can consult with a counselor and together decide which would be beneficial, or you can enroll in LIFE-1000 (formerly LCD 100)a three credit hour Career Exploration course designed to help students select a career path.

Yes, there is a fee for some inventories. The fee is based upon the complexity of the inventory and the cost of scoring. The fee begins at $20.00. However, the MOIS inventory is free.

Once you have visited Career Services and narrowed down your career options, you can relate this to college majors. You can also begin to gain work experience in your chosen career area to help you confirm your decision. This experience should be in the general area you are planning to study; e.g., if you are planning a career in medicine, you may opt for part-time work in a hospital, clinic or lab; a career in engineering may lead you to seek experience in design, manufacturing or development; a career in business may lead you to a position in marketing, human resources, banking, etc. This experience can be part-time or volunteer, but it should be in an environment that exposes you to your chosen career field.

There are a variety of services and resources available to help you with career related concerns.

• If you are totally undecided, see a Counselor first.
• If you want to explore your interests, skills and values as they relate to your career: Counseling, Career Services, LIFE-1000 class
• If you know your program/major and where you will complete it: Academic Advising
• If you need help in planning your education: Career Services; Academic Advising If you want to develop career-related experiences: Career Services

If you are totally undecided, see a Counselor first. If you are transferring but don't know to what college: Counseling, Career Services If you want to explore your interests, skills and values as they relate to your career: Counseling, Career Services, LIFE-1000 class If you know your program/major and where you will complete it: Academic Advising If you need help in planning your education: Career Services; Academic Advising If you want to develop career-related experiences: Career Services

A major is a group of classes focused on developing your expertise in a specific area or body of knowledge. The term "major" usually refers to a concentration of classes leading to a Bachelor Degree. Some colleges use the terms "concentration", "specialization", or "focus of study" to mean the same thing. At Macomb, like most community colleges, we usually refer to this concentration of classes as a "program".

Choosing your program or major is a significant decision in your life. It is not one made in just a few minutes. This decision is the result of a process requiring you to have information about yourself, your interests, your values, your goals and your desires. This self-knowledge is then applied to college programs & majors and the career options to which they lead. If you would like help with this process, you should contact the Career Counseling Department at your campus.

Choosing a major is important because your major points to your career direction. Not all majors result in a specific job after graduation, but all majors define the range of jobs for which you can apply as a new graduate. Once you have your first professional job, your career direction is governed by your experience and additional education. So a major makes you eligible for specific types of entry level jobs. If you have an idea of what type of career you want, you should identify the college majors that will lead to that career.

Generally speaking, for an associate degree, you should choose your program during your freshman year. Declare your choice and begin to take the required classes. Your experience in these classes will validate your choice. If you change your mind, you can go through the decision making process again with the newly found information. A counselor can help you with that process. For those pursuing a Bachelor degree, you should choose your major no later than your sophomore year. This allows completion of requirements so you can graduate in a timely fashion. However, some programs, at both the Associate and Bachelor Degree level, are tightly structured and require that you complete specific requirements the first semester of your freshman year if possible. In this case, your should work at making your decision during your freshman year.

It's easy. At Macomb, just go to the Enrollment Office and tell them what program you plan to follow.

You may find that you have selected a career that requires education beyond the associate degree. If that is the case, you will need to transfer to another college to complete your education.

Selecting a college can seem like a formidable task because each college and university has its own unique characteristics. In addition to evaluating the quality of the program/major at the college you have selected, you must recognize that each college has its own "personality", and this "campus personality" creates an atmosphere in which you must feel comfortable. Before making a decision about which college you will next attend, consider all of the factors which will contribute to your success.

Although it sometimes seems as if selecting your next college is as easy as attending the one closest to where you live, or attending one which other members of your family have attended, you should not overlook any college which can help you achieve success. Major course of study, location, student population and costs are only some of the factors you should consider.

The college to which you will transfer will drive your course selection, therefore, you should begin your investigation as soon as you enter Macomb.

Once you have made the decision that your chosen career will require education beyond the associate degree, you will need to attend a college which will lead you to success in your chosen career. College selection is an important part of the answer to the question about which courses you should take. Students who have made a firm choice regarding their transfer college and their specific major should meet with an advisor from whom they can receive a "transfer guide". These guides, called a student program plan, available for most universities in Michigan, will be tailored to the school to which you plan to transfer. They will also include the classes you have already taken and compare them to the requirements of the school you are considering. However, transfer guides differ from university to university and frequently are not fully interchangeable. Therefore, it is important that you take the time now to investigate your college options and identify your next college. If you know what college you are planning to attend, but are not sure of the major, you should visit with a counselor who will help you make that important decision. You should also visit with a counselor if you plan to attend an out-of-state college or university. The counselor can help you interpret the requirements of your selected college. Macomb students can view their personal record using WebAdvisor. Transfer guides are also available. Just follow the directions.

Since all colleges develop majors/program suited to their institution, not all requirements are the same. If you have changed your mind about which college to attend, or if you are simply not sure, visit Career Services where you will discover a vast amount of college-related information to help you with this decision. Once you have researched the possibilities available, meet with a counselor for assistance in making that final decision. Counselors are also available to help you clarify your decision and to assist in determining how to use the credits you already have in the most efficient way possible.