Why do self and career exploration matter?

Self Exploration

As you think about and plan for your college journey, it is important to start by thinking about yourself! This is called self-exploration: What motivates you? What are your strengths and interests? What do you like and dislike? What brings you joy? What are you curious about?

Career Exploration

After doing some self-exploration, you can begin to think about careers that match your personality, strengths, and interests. This is called career exploration. Once you have a list of careers to consider, you can explore more about them: What is the average salary? Is the career in high demand? What is the required education level? What are majors (areas of study) suggested for this career?

Major Exploration

For some careers, there are specific majors you should consider. An example is nursing - to become a nurse you should look to major in nursing. Other careers do not require specific majors. An example is a career as a lawyer - to become a lawyer, you can major in anything, after receiving your Bachelor's Degree you must go to Law School and pass tests to be able to practice law. Once you identify careers that you are interested in, take the time to review and learn about majors recommended for that career. This is called major exploration. Read about the types of classes and opportunities you will have access to in this area of study. 

College Exploration

When it comes to creating a list of colleges and universities that you will apply to, there are lots of factors you will consider. One of the factors should definitely be around major options. After identifying a few majors you are interested in, be sure to consider the following questions when exploring colleges: Does the college offer my major(s)? Is the major program at the college strong/recognized? What special opportunities does the college have when it comes to this area of study (i.e. internships, research opportunities, ties to industry/jobs)?

The more exploration you do (SELF, CAREER, MAJOR, and COLLEGE), the better prepared you will be to navigate the road to college. This type of exploration can also support the type of courses you take while in high school. For example, if you know that you want to go into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and math (STEM) field and will likely choose a STEM-related major, then during your senior year of high school you should prioritize taking advanced-level math (pre-calculus, calculus, etc.) and advanced level science. College can be a difficult road to navigate. Having a clear career goal will help you stay motivated and focused on the finish line!