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Ask Dr. Syl: How do I Choose My Major?

Dr. Syl

Dear Dr. Syl,

When did you finally realize what you were going to major in?

From: Major Realization.

 

Dear Major Realization, 

Choosing a major is not the same for everyone.  Some people know exactly what they want to be when they “grow up.”  Other people have no clue what they want to do. What worked for me was testing the waters.  

 

During my first few semesters in college where we are required to take general education courses, it was helpful to try out a variety of courses and figure out what I enjoyed or what I was good at.  Once I figured that out, I looked into the variety of career choices that work with that specific major.  I ended up really enjoying my sociology courses and that is when I finally decided that I really like the broad number of career options I would have.  I focused on working in social services once I graduated and ended up working for multiple non-profit organizations doing case management and counseling.  

 

However, this led me to my next adventure.  I decided that I wanted to get different levels of experience and take an administrative role in the workplace so I returned to school a year later to get my masters in public administration.  Soon after graduating, I started working as a school administrator which lead me to look into a doctorate program in educational leadership.  I got my doctorate degree three years ago and would eventually like to transition into higher education administration.

 

The moral of my story is that I truly tested the waters which lead me to make decisions that best fit my interest and passions.  Although I was very unsure of what I wanted to do when I first started college, I was able to slowly make decisions based on the experiences I was having.  This method may not be the best for everyone but it may help you get a better understanding of what options you have.  

Good luck in all you do!

From Dr. Syl.

Stay tuned for the next segment of Ask Dr. Syl every 15th of the month!!

Author: Dr. Sylvia Landaverde

Sylvia, also known as Dr. Syl, is a first generation college student with a B.A. in sociology with a minor in women’s studies from California State University, Long Beach, an M.P.A. from Cal State Dominguez Hills, and her Ed.D in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California. Dr. Syl lives with her fiancee and two-year-old son and enjoys travel, volunteer work and spending time with her family.

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