by Emily McSherry, CEO Advize
As the CEO of Advize, I've spoken with countless students and professionals about their career journeys. One question that consistently comes up is how to choose the right major and university. It's a critical decision that can shape your future, and I'm here to offer some insights to help guide you through this process.
Start with Self-Reflection
Before diving into university websites or major requirements, take some time for introspection:
Identify your strengths and interests
Consider the challenges you'd like to tackle in your career
Think about the work and campus environments where you believe you'd thrive
This self-awareness will serve as your compass throughout the decision-making process. These are big questions that you likely do not know all the answers to, but you should listen to your intuition and see what comes up for you.
Conduct Thorough Research
Once you have a general direction, it's time to gather information:
Job Market Analysis: Use resources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics to understand job growth projections and salary expectations in fields that interest you.
Professional Insights: Leverage Advize to access short-form content from professionals where you can hear real examples from professionals talking about your careers of interest. You can search professionals by major area of study, by company, or even by university to see if your self-awareness exercise and inner compass is leading you in the right direction.
Their firsthand experiences can provide valuable perspective and Advize is the only extensive, free-for-student platform today that helps you do this on-demand without reaching out to professionals cold on LinkedIn or by other methods.
Skill Requirements: Review job descriptions for roles you aspire to. Search for professionals in these roles on Advize and listen to what they say to the question, “What skills are most important for a job like yours?”. Note the required skills and degrees to ensure your educational path aligns with your career goals. Find patterns from people you are most drawn to or interested in. What did they do to get where they are, and how can that help you select a major or college?
Evaluating Universities
When assessing potential universities, consider these key factors:
Academic Reputation: Look for institutions with strong programs in your areas of interest. See what their requirements are to be accepted and do your best to match or beat their average test scores, GPAs, etc. to have the best chance of getting in.
Location: Determine whether you prefer an urban or rural setting, and consider the opportunities each environment offers - NYU in New York City, New York compared to the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, will provide vastly different experiences.
Size and Culture: Reflect on whether you'd perform better in a large, diverse student body or a smaller, more intimate setting.
Financial Considerations: Carefully examine the cost of attendance and available financial aid options. It’s not great to start life after graduation with huge amounts of debt. For example, I was accepted out of state to the University of Texas, a top ranked undergraduate school, which would have cost over $60,000 (my first choice school). However, I received a full tuition scholarship to the University of Arizona and went there instead primarily because of financial reasons.
Career Services: Evaluate the university's track record in job placement and internship opportunities. On their websites, you can find this information. On Advize, you can search by school and see real examples of professionals in various careers to help you evaluate if the jobs people get and the alumni the school accepts and graduates are inspiring or “your cup of tea”.
Gain Firsthand Experience
While research is crucial, nothing replaces personal experience:
Campus Visits: If possible, tour the campuses on your shortlist. Pay attention to the atmosphere and facilities. Sometimes, you don’t know how you will feel until you are physically at a place.
Class Audits: Many universities allow prospective students to sit in on classes. This can give you a taste of the academic environment. I did this when considering business schools at Dartmouth, Wharton, Yale, Stanford and UC Berkeley Haas. It may seem expensive, but it's not as expensive as making the wrong decision.
Student Engagement: Speak with current students to get an unfiltered view of campus life and academic programs. Before I went to each school, I set up one-on-one meetings with current students who were studying similar things I was interested in from what I could find online or LinkedIn. I bought them coffee, they were happy to talk with me, and this really helped me think through big decisions while getting a read about the culture of the school.
Remain Open to Change
It's important to approach this decision with both seriousness and flexibility. Many successful professionals, including some I've interviewed for Advize, have changed their majors or transferred universities. Your initial choice is important, but it's not irrevocable. I personally let go of my number one choices a few times during this process to find other solutions that ended up being the right fit for me, although hard to let go at first.
The Advize Advantage
At Advize, we've curated a wealth of informational interviews from professionals across various fields. I encourage you to explore these resources on our platform. They offer valuable insights into different career paths and can help you make a more informed decision about your educational journey.
Conclusion
Choosing your major and university is a significant step in your career journey. By thoroughly researching your options, understanding yourself, and leveraging resources like Advize, you can make a well-informed decision. Remember, this choice is about setting a foundation for your future success.
We at Advize are committed to supporting you in this journey. Our platform is designed to bridge the gap between education and career, providing you with the insights you need to make confident decisions about your future.
Best of luck in your educational and professional endeavors. We look forward to seeing the great things you'll accomplish!