By Kacey Earl
After taking out loans for tuition, books and spending years in general education classes, more than 3,000 students at BYU are still trying to decide from among BYU”s 218 majors.
From the incoming freshmen to the seniors who have not made up their mind yet, declaring a major is a key step to set students on a path towards graduation and a career.
This is why the Open Major Advisement Center and Career Placement Services, located in the Wilkinson Student Center, help students make the career decision.
“We give students a reality check and help them realize their values, interests and skills,” said Alberto Puertas, an Academic Career Advisor in the Open Major Advisement center.
Puertas advises students that choosing a major is a process and should not be based on the emotions of the day. This process should take time, research, and a lot of thought.
However, for some students what to major in isn”t near as important as simply getting a degree.
“My parents really encouraged me to get a degree no matter what it was in. It”ll put you above everyone else who doesn”t have a degree,” said Jim Blauer, a senior transfer student from Ricks College.
Blauer went to the Open Major Advisement Center to get some advice about what to do with his degree.
He decided to be a Psychology major because he found the subject really interesting.
Now, as he plans to graduate this April, he has some questions about what track he should take with his degree.
Scott R. Greenhalgh, manager of Alumni Placement at the Career Placement Center, said this is why students should, “study what you passionately love, but have a career focus in mind.”
Both Puertas and Greenhalgh agree that a student should choose a career first, then choose a major that will help them reach their occupational goal.
Greenhalgh and Puertas suggest that a major should be declared with a future career in mind during the sophomore year.
