If you are completely undecided about your major and future career path, you can narrow your list of potential majors by assessing your strengths, interests, and goals. The following suggestions and resources can help you begin this process.

• Decide whether you plan to pursue career or personal goals through your undergraduate studies. If your career is your primary focus, you should choose a major that enhances your career opportunities. If your primary goal is personal development, you will have more options, but you should still choose a major that is compatible with your interests and talents.

• Consider your interests and talents. By reflecting upon your previous academic, job-related and personal life experiences, you will gain a better understanding of your values, personality traits, vocational interests and skills, which are important considerations in choosing your major and career. You can use the following questions to begin a list of interests and strengths. Review your responses for related areas, which may reveal your preferences for a career and major.

Which previous courses (college or high-school) have you most enjoyed?

Which aspects of your current or previous jobs do/did you enjoy?

What are your hobbies?

How do you like to spend your time outside of work or school?

In which academic areas have you excelled in the past?

For which talents have you received recognition from others?

Which accomplishments make you most proud?

Self-Assessment Resources

UMUC advisors often recommend the following self-assessment resources to students who are undecided about their major and career plans.

• UMUC Career Center. The Career Center offers several fee-based services to help you clarify your career interests and goals. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment can help you understand your unique personality and the way it affects your career decisions and work performance. A career counselor will administer the MBTI assessment and provide a review of the results. You can also schedule a Career Planning Session with a Career Center counselor.

• What Color Is My Parachute, by Richard Bolles . This best-selling book contains advice and self-assessment tools for job-seekers and career changers, and has a companion Web site at www.jobhuntersbible.com.

• The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success by Nicholas Lore. This book is available at www.amazon.com.

• Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type—Revised and Updated Edition Featuring E-Careers for the 21 st Century by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger. This book is available at www.amazon.com.

• Free and fee-based online career assessment tools. There are numerous assessment tools and tests on the World Wide Web. You can find a comprehensive list of resources in this area on two Web sites, www.quintcareers.com and www.rileyguide.com .

Next: Research Your Careers and Majors of Interest