College Admissions: Top Ways to Explore Majors and Careers

Monday, April 24, 2017

Cristiana Quinn, GoLocalWorcester College Admissions Expert

As the end of the school year draws near, many families forget that summer is the perfect time for students to explore career options. Parents want to know that a six-figure college investment will result in their child being able to launch a career when they graduate. The trouble is that high schools rarely provide students with an in-depth opportunity to learn about different professions. And without that insight, few students are able to select the right college and major based on a long-term plan. Here are some suggestions to help students explore different fields.

Career testing for teens

Career testing has been around for decades. However, many adult-oriented tests ask a lot of questions based on real world experience that teens just don’t have. This career test from the University of Missouri asks age appropriate questions for teens. Students can then click through to Department of Labor outlooks for different professions and read about the majors and degrees that are recommended for each. Based on their interests and corresponding majors, teens can then identify target colleges.

Summer programs with career focus

Summer programs are a great way for students to learn about different careers. Many state and private universities have pre-college summer programs which allow kids to try different courses or work with professionals from different fields. Your in-state universities will offer the most cost effective programs, but if you have a larger budget, private universities provide additional options. URI has filmmaking, engineering and marine biology sessions. UMASS is offering 1-3 week programs in everything from neurology to music technology, and 6 week laboratory research intensives. Dartmouth has a wonderful program which exposes students to a variety of health professions inside the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital. Georgetown introduces students to business in today’s global economy, foreign relations, counter-intelligence, journalism and more. And Marist College offers a wide variety of summer career programs, including fashion design, law enforcement and movie production. All of these programs have a fee, but there are scholarships, and the cost is minimal compared to four years in college without a direction.

Internships and research projects

Internships and research projects are another terrific way for teens to explore different career fields. You can set up your own customized experience for free shadowing a local veterinarian, shop owner or architect, or you can opt for a more formal program on a college campus. BU has a science and engineering research program. Stony Brook University offers summer research opportunities in math, science and engineering. And many departments in the federal government also provide summer internships for high school and college students at locations around the country. From NASA and EPA to NIH, there are hundreds of opportunities to explore careers and build your resume.

Many internships and courses have deadlines coming up, so don’t delay. Make your summer count!

Cristiana Quinn, M.Ed. is the founder of College Admission Advisors, LLC, a private college admissions counseling company based in Providence, Rhode Island. www.collegeadvisorsonline.com