Helping Your Child Negotiate Major and Career Exploration
What is the University College?
- University College is a unique and nurturing place that is designed to help your son or daughter make informed decisions about the future.
- Your daughter or son has a chance to earn credits for their college degree, while also exploring options to find the best fit for their future.
- We realize that it may seem hard to understand how exploring can help your child achieve their career goals. Research has demonstrated that students who are committed to a well-explored career plan are more likely to graduate from college and succeed in their careers.
Helping your Child Explore Academic and Career Choices
One of the most important aspects of University College is that we now us the term “exploratory student” to refer to students who have not yet declared an academic major. Rather than having students making career decisions based solely on the advice of peers, TV/media, or hunches, we believe that a systematic approach to the career development process is best. University College provides an integrated approach to career development, including the following:
- Career counseling or exploring options with a professional counselor, call (602) 496-0589 to schedule an appointment.
- Career tests and other assessment tools (such as interest inventories)
- Academic advising
- Career decision making and exploration classes
Parents and the Exploratory College Student
Some parents may be concerned that their son or daughter is struggling to develop a career plan at this point; however, the reality is that young people need support and structure in career and educational decision making. Parents can do a great deal to help their sons and daughters benefit from the unique supports of University College. Some of the supports that parents can provide are summarized next:
- Encourage your daughter or son to talk about courses, activities, and hopes with you and other family members. Your role should be as a listener as opposed to someone who has to have specific answers.
- Help your son or daughter to understand the requirements of the working world (such as hard work, punctuality, the acquisition of basic academic skills, and respect for others.)
- Provide a shoulder for your son or daughter to lean on when a tentative plan runs up against a roadblock.
Advantages of University College
Numerous advantages exist for students in University College.
- Foremost among these advantages is the assistance that University College provides in helping students move from career indecision to a solid commitment to a career and educational plan. Students attending University College will be provided with outstanding support and engaged instruction as they fulfill University core requirements and explore their interests, values, and abilities.
- The skills that students will obtain at University College are increasingly viewed as key in lifelong learning and earning. As the world of work shifts rapidly and often haphazardly, the acquisition and refinement of career decision making and exploration skills will become key attributes of a successful life.
Attending University College will help to develop these skills, which may serve your child throughout their life. If you have any questions about University College, please visit our Web site http://uc.asu.edu/majorexploration/.
Call (602) 496-0589 or email majorexploration@asu.edu with questions or to make an appointment.