Major fair for major decisions

For those struggling to decide on a major or where to seek employment, help is just around the corner.

The University Advisement Center will be sponsoring its seventh annual Major Fair on Oct. 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Wilkinson Student Center ballroom.

Out of the 184 majors BYU offers, 118 will participate providing students with details about various programs. Although not every major will have a booth, all college advisement centers will be in attendance to supply students information.

Academic and Career Advisor, Jeff Buell, noted there has been an increase in attendance from the college advisement centers on campus from last year’s major fair.

“There’s more interest this year,” Buell said. “A lot of departments signed up earlier.”

100 booths were at last year’s major fair and 5,342 students attended. Major Fairs in the past have had booths with popcorn machines, homemade ice cream stations and even chemical experiments.

“We are excited to see what different departments do to draw people in,” Buell said.

Karen Evans, director and licensed psychologist at the University Advisement Center, explained that all college advisement centers participate in the Major Fair.

“We couldn’t have a fair without everyone’s help,” Evans said.

The college advisors, faculty and students in the majors all work hard to create a good experience for students attending the fair. Buell said BYU advisors and faculty are invested in the success of the students. The Major Fair is a place where students can consult with other students and faculty in majors of their interest and gather the necessary information before making a decision.

BYU currently has 2,900 open major students. Research done by the University Advisement Center indicated that only 17 percent of students graduate in the major they originally declared, which is why BYU continues to hold the Major Fair.

Curtis Cannon, a junior from Salt Lake majoring in business management was directed to his current major by attending the fair.

“I was looking at different majors before the Major Fair,” Cannon said. “Going to the fair helped me decide that business was a good course for me.  (The Major Fair) had easy and very accessible information.”

The university advisement center sponsors the Major Fair every year to give students a place to gather information before making the decision.

“Choosing (a) major is a process, we are just excited to help students through the process,” Buell said.