Jessica Pellegrino – General Assignment Reporter
In today’s shrinking job market, college degrees are more important now than ever before. Degrees give applicants the necessary leg up to succeed. The first step in obtaining a college degree is picking out a major. Choosing a major is the most important decision students must make during their college careers. College majors not only orient students’ course schedules while at Southern, but most importantly, majors guide students’ lives after Southern.
Southern provided students with the opportunity to explore everything the university has to offer at the Majors Expo on Oct. 15. Representatives from all of Southern’s majors and minors met in the Ballroom to present themselves to students. The departments handed out information about programs and supplied faculty members to speak with students in attendance. The Majors Expo intended to aid students in exploring majors and minors, give students the option to speak to professionals about career opportunities, and network with Southern Connecticut State University alumni and staff.
Bob McEachern, English professor at Southern, represented Southern Connecticut State University’s English Department at the Majors Expo.
“The Majors Expo allows students to speak with actual faculty members,” said McEachern. “There is only so much a student can learn from Southern’s website. Speaking face to face is important in situations like this, when a student is making decisions regarding their futures.”
McEachern shares tips for students to keep in mind during the decision making process. “Money is important to your future, but try to get past that,” said McEachern. “Students are going to be here for four years; so really, you should be doing something that you will love, not just something that will be lucrative. You are going to learn the necessary skills not matter what major you choose so do what you enjoy.”
Students who have not yet decided on a major can come to events like the Majors Expo to find clarity. Bahar Mohammad, freshman and undecided student at Southern, kept her options open at the expo. “I am here as an undecided student,” said Mohammad. “I really wanted to look into the social sciences like public health, psychology or sociology, but I still was not sure which direction I wanted to take. The professionals here helped me orient myself. They told me what general education classes to take for my LEP that will be most helpful for my future.”
The Majors Expo provided students with access to professionals that can guide their course schedule, even before they pick a major. The LEP program allows students to dip their toes into a variety of subjects, but once the student picks a path, choosing major specific classes can be very helpful.
Some majors, like education, have career paths built into them. However, other majors can be more open ended, which is challenging for students. The Majors Expo helps students navigate their futures.
Kayla Brown, junior English major, attended the fair to get perspective for her future, “I am an English major and sometimes, I wonder what I am going to do with an English degree,” said Brown. “I came to the Majors Expo to speak with some professors about my future and I really got a lot of useful information. Half the jobs that the professors told me about, I did not even know existed, yet alone could be achieved with an English degree. I feel much better about my pending graduation after going to the Majors Expo.”
Whether students are looking for their passion or upperclassmen looking for their own personal career paths, events like the Majors Expo serve to aid in the decision making process and take the pressure off of the individual.
Photo Credit: Derek Torrellas
