You Want to Major in WHAT?

It is common for parents to be concerned about their student's choice of major. Will jobs be available? Will the investment in this education have long term career benefits? It can be tempting to make recommendations such as "Be an X major. That's where the jobs are." This, however, can be a source of great anxiety for many students. When mom or dad pushes a major that does not align with the student's passions and interests it can be difficult to successfully navigate the decision-making process.

The truth is a student's undergraduate major is typically not the critical key to success. Major does not equal career. Proof lies within Binghamton 's Alumni Career Network. Students can access the network 24/7 to see exactly what alumni in any given major are doing now. What they'll find are English majors who are bank vice presidents, sociology majors working as consultants, and geography majors employed by diverse organizations such as the US Department of Housing & Urban Development, Atlantic States Legal Foundation, and Credit Suisse. Better yet, students can contact these alums to learn how they managed their own career development.

How is this possible? The key is transferable skills; abilities that can be translated to any career and any employer. Students may gain these skills in the classroom, but many are developed through extracurricular activities, internships, volunteer experiences and other out-of-the-classroom endeavors. Employers and graduate programs are interested in students who not only perform well academically, but who are also well rounded and engaged in their undergraduate experience. In fact, many seek students who come from academic programs outside of their own field and therefore have fresh ideas and new ways of thinking.

Students build momentum for career success by choosing academic majors they enjoy, getting involved in the campus and community, and taking advantage of the many opportunities and services available to them while in college. Encourage your student to maximize his/her college experience and to visit the Career Development Center early in their academic career for guidance and suggestions for enhancing their own career development. For more information, visit the links below:

Binghamton Career Development Center : Choosing a Major Resources
Transferable Skills Quick Reference Guide
Road to Career Success for Liberal Arts Majors
A Parent's Guide to Career Development
A Career Planning Course for Parents