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The Girls in 3-B (1959) ... Students 'Explore' at FSU (Apr. 25, 2012) ...
“Exploratory students make an informed decision, one that they can be confident in because it’s based on knowledge of their values, interests and skills.”
.......***** All images are copyrighted by their respective authors ......
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.....item 1).... FSU ... FSU News ... www.fsunews.com/article ... Students 'Explore' at FSU
Declaring an 'exploratory' major gives the freedom to choose
6:01 PM, Apr. 25, 2012
Written by
Kayla Becker
Senior Staff Writer
FILED UNDER
FSU News
www.fsunews.com/article/20120426/FSVIEW/120425025/Student...|newswell|text|frontpage|s
Many college students are falling into ill-fitted majors instead of spending time choosing a major that compliments their talents, experts say.
“Many are not taking the time—quiet time—it requires to reflect, get to really know themselves and answer the right questions it takes to make a wise decision—not a perfect decision,” said Andrea Kay, a syndicated columnist and career consultant.
Kay said she has repeatedly heard the same reasoning from students who fall into their major and later regret the choice.
“I didn’t give it much thought,” or “I had to pick something by my junior year, so I went into political science because I thought I might like it,” are some of the responses she typically hears.
Yet, some Florida State University students say they’ve found a clever way to avoid falling into a major they’ll later regret—declaring the exploratory major.
In the exploratory major, students actively research potential major fits while exploring their options at the same time.
Advising First Exploratory Center Program Manager Linda Burns said the exploratory major is different from just any undecided major—it’s designed for students to go through a series of steps to help them make a self-reflective decision.
“Research has shown that many students who enter college pick a major without knowing a lot about that chosen major,” Burns said. “Exploratory students make an informed decision, one that they can be confident in because it’s based on knowledge of their values, interests and skills.”
After investigating all majors that align with who they are and looking at related occupations and careers, students who have gone through the process can confidently declare a major by their third term.
“FSU’s Advising First Center for Exploratory Students is award winning and nationally recognized-with reason,” said one FSU parent. “Though my son already had a strong interest identified, there are many other students who do not. This program recognizes that there is nothing wrong with that.”
This is perhaps why the exploratory track is currently the most popular major for entering freshmen at FSU. Student Katherine Neidig declared the undecided major and said she credited her decision to her ever-changing interests.
“I chose not to declare a major right off the bat because my mind is constantly developing and changing,” Neidig said. “I didn’t want to make a decision for my career path based on something that I’ve had a strong interest in for only a short period of time.”
Because she chose the exploratory major, Neidig said she was able to explore her passions and rule out majors that didn’t fit with her interests.
“Being able to have the freedom to choose from a variety of different classes has significantly helped me in the process of determining what I ultimately want to major in—Music Business,” Neidig said.
To help them along the way, students have assigned exploratory advisors and meet with them at least once a semester to check-in and talk through their exploration process.
Burns said the major, in partnership with the Career Center, also offers “creative programming” each semester through “Pizza and a Major” to help students further investigate their interests.
“The last ‘Pizza and A Major’ each semester culminates in a scavenger hunt at the Career Center, where students are exposed to the resources and personnel available for support in their career exploration phase,” Burns said.
In the spring, the major also offers “Major and Career panels” in six career zones.
“Faculty members, students and professionals in each area come share about careers, skills, opportunities and just great general advice about what it takes to be successful,” Burns said. “Many students find these panels especially helpful in making their major decision.”
Neidig said that, from a student’s viewpoint, the trouble with being exploratory is the looming fallacy that the major classifies her as a “lazy” student. However, Neidig said she’s been researching her interests for her past two terms.
“I believe a lot of people view undecided majors as people who lack the motivation needed to succeed in college,” Neidig said. “That’s not the case at all, though.”
Student Jordan Gaither also said he found his passion through the exploratory route—marketing.
“I’ve learned that the benefit to being an exploratory major is not having to take any serious classes to pertain to one particular subject field,” said Gaither, who had originally started out in theatre, something he’d done all his life. “It allowed me to roam and explore different options that might be available to me.”
University of Denver research professor, Scott Stanley, said declaring an exploratory or undecided major saves a student the lost time of repeatedly switching majors.
“When a person keeps switching, they are wasting a lot of resources because they have invested money and time in those other majors,” Stanley said. “Many times, switching is throwing away some of that in terms of graduating and getting out into the job market.”
Stanley said even with the high number of college students who choose a major “because they didn’t know what else to major in,” there is a way for college students to find their best fit—through an exploratory major.
“There are doubtless scads of students who are graduating with a major that they would not choose again if they were able to start college all over again,” Stanley said. “Finding the balance between exploring and committing is the key.”
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The Girls in 3-B (1959) ... Students 'Explore' at FSU (Apr. 25, 2012) ...
“Exploratory students make an informed decision, one that they can be confident in because it’s based on knowledge of their values, interests and skills.”
.......***** All images are copyrighted by their respective authors ......
.
..................................................................................................................................................................................................
.
.....item 1).... FSU ... FSU News ... www.fsunews.com/article ... Students 'Explore' at FSU
Declaring an 'exploratory' major gives the freedom to choose
6:01 PM, Apr. 25, 2012
Written by
Kayla Becker
Senior Staff Writer
FILED UNDER
FSU News
www.fsunews.com/article/20120426/FSVIEW/120425025/Student...|newswell|text|frontpage|s
Many college students are falling into ill-fitted majors instead of spending time choosing a major that compliments their talents, experts say.
“Many are not taking the time—quiet time—it requires to reflect, get to really know themselves and answer the right questions it takes to make a wise decision—not a perfect decision,” said Andrea Kay, a syndicated columnist and career consultant.
Kay said she has repeatedly heard the same reasoning from students who fall into their major and later regret the choice.
“I didn’t give it much thought,” or “I had to pick something by my junior year, so I went into political science because I thought I might like it,” are some of the responses she typically hears.
Yet, some Florida State University students say they’ve found a clever way to avoid falling into a major they’ll later regret—declaring the exploratory major.
In the exploratory major, students actively research potential major fits while exploring their options at the same time.
Advising First Exploratory Center Program Manager Linda Burns said the exploratory major is different from just any undecided major—it’s designed for students to go through a series of steps to help them make a self-reflective decision.
“Research has shown that many students who enter college pick a major without knowing a lot about that chosen major,” Burns said. “Exploratory students make an informed decision, one that they can be confident in because it’s based on knowledge of their values, interests and skills.”
After investigating all majors that align with who they are and looking at related occupations and careers, students who have gone through the process can confidently declare a major by their third term.
“FSU’s Advising First Center for Exploratory Students is award winning and nationally recognized-with reason,” said one FSU parent. “Though my son already had a strong interest identified, there are many other students who do not. This program recognizes that there is nothing wrong with that.”
This is perhaps why the exploratory track is currently the most popular major for entering freshmen at FSU. Student Katherine Neidig declared the undecided major and said she credited her decision to her ever-changing interests.
“I chose not to declare a major right off the bat because my mind is constantly developing and changing,” Neidig said. “I didn’t want to make a decision for my career path based on something that I’ve had a strong interest in for only a short period of time.”
Because she chose the exploratory major, Neidig said she was able to explore her passions and rule out majors that didn’t fit with her interests.
“Being able to have the freedom to choose from a variety of different classes has significantly helped me in the process of determining what I ultimately want to major in—Music Business,” Neidig said.
To help them along the way, students have assigned exploratory advisors and meet with them at least once a semester to check-in and talk through their exploration process.
Burns said the major, in partnership with the Career Center, also offers “creative programming” each semester through “Pizza and a Major” to help students further investigate their interests.
“The last ‘Pizza and A Major’ each semester culminates in a scavenger hunt at the Career Center, where students are exposed to the resources and personnel available for support in their career exploration phase,” Burns said.
In the spring, the major also offers “Major and Career panels” in six career zones.
“Faculty members, students and professionals in each area come share about careers, skills, opportunities and just great general advice about what it takes to be successful,” Burns said. “Many students find these panels especially helpful in making their major decision.”
Neidig said that, from a student’s viewpoint, the trouble with being exploratory is the looming fallacy that the major classifies her as a “lazy” student. However, Neidig said she’s been researching her interests for her past two terms.
“I believe a lot of people view undecided majors as people who lack the motivation needed to succeed in college,” Neidig said. “That’s not the case at all, though.”
Student Jordan Gaither also said he found his passion through the exploratory route—marketing.
“I’ve learned that the benefit to being an exploratory major is not having to take any serious classes to pertain to one particular subject field,” said Gaither, who had originally started out in theatre, something he’d done all his life. “It allowed me to roam and explore different options that might be available to me.”
University of Denver research professor, Scott Stanley, said declaring an exploratory or undecided major saves a student the lost time of repeatedly switching majors.
“When a person keeps switching, they are wasting a lot of resources because they have invested money and time in those other majors,” Stanley said. “Many times, switching is throwing away some of that in terms of graduating and getting out into the job market.”
Stanley said even with the high number of college students who choose a major “because they didn’t know what else to major in,” there is a way for college students to find their best fit—through an exploratory major.
“There are doubtless scads of students who are graduating with a major that they would not choose again if they were able to start college all over again,” Stanley said. “Finding the balance between exploring and committing is the key.”
.
.
.............................................................................................................................................................................................
.
.