Interests + Skills + Passions = Your UCM MAJOR!

If you are entering college and you are not sure what major to choose, you are not alone! There are approximately 350 students at UC Merced who are Undeclared. Entering college as Undeclared is a very wise choice. The majority of freshman entering colleges have not had a great deal of exposure to different careers. Right now the Occupation Outlook Handbook lists over 35,000 different vocation careers! That is a lot of choices.

Being Undeclared allows you to explore, investigate, and expand your general knowledge as you plan for your future.   This is the time for self discovery and figuring out who you are and where your interests lie. Follow your dreams and pursue any opportunity that comes your way. College is a unique time in your life and you want to get as much out of this experience as you can.

When you are thinking about majors try not to only ask yourself, “What can I do with this major?” You should ask yourself, “What do I want to do?” This approach leaves the door open for you to explore many different areas. Visit Career Services in KL 127 for more information about careers.

 Majors and careers do not always have a direct relationship. Some careers such as engineers require certain majors; however, majoring in Engineering is not the only way to become an engineer. A student who did not major specifically in Engineering could go to Graduate School or work as an intern in an engineering firm. Careers often develop in unexpected ways that cannot be predicted by the major you choose. Your major is just one aspect of yourself that you offer an employer. Employers look for a combination of qualifications, evaluating candidates on a number of factors, including attitude, related experience, achievements, extra-curricular involvement, leadership, communication abilities and transferable and adaptive skills.