Deciding on a major can be a difficult task, and it can be frustrating when everyone seems to know what they want to do besides you. However, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of during your time at Binghamton University to find the right major for you.
Binghamton offers a plethora of unique experiences and opportunities to pique students’ interest in a particular field and get them thinking about what they might like to study and/or pursue a career in.
- Take intro classes!
Binghamton offers a large variety of classes in different areas that students can take to not only fulfill their general education requirements but also explore different fields. While you may have only signed up for a course to check off one of your gen ed requirements on DegreeWorks, try to make the most of your time taking the class. Consider asking yourself the following questions: Do you like what you are learning about? Could you see yourself taking other classes like this one? How can you apply what you are learning in this class to your career?
If you find yourself consistently interested in the course material and could even see yourself doing something related to it for an occupation, consider speaking with an academic advisor about taking similar courses or even majoring in the subject area. You may be surprised at what classes you enjoy!
- Attend a Harpur Edge Speaker Series!
Harpur Edge is a resource available to all Harpur students and helps students develop their personal, intellectual, and professional edge. It offers many different events and opportunities to students, including “Lunch and Learns” with Binghamton alumni who share their experiences and advice with students. By attending these events, students are able to build their network and hear unique stories from alumni from all different majors, backgrounds, and careers. These events show students the many different directions that a major in Harpur College can take students. Attending these speaker events is a great way to explore majors and job opportunities that you otherwise may not have known about.
- Join one of Binghamton’s 450+ clubs!
There is a club for everyone at Binghamton. Joining a club offers more than just an opportunity to make friends, it allows students to explore their interests and informs students’ major and/or career decisions. For example, joining the Boys and Girls Club as a mentor may help you decide that you want to work with children, or entering a case competition with the Marketing Association may make you realize you want to pursue a career in business. There are academic, cultural, professional, and social clubs, each with its own events and benefits for students to take advantage of. Most clubs do not require a large time commitment and can help students figure out what they enjoy with the added benefit of meeting other students. See all of the clubs that Binghamton offers on B-Engaged and consider joining one to further develop your major and career interests.
- Attend the Job and Internship Fair!
Every semester, the Fleishman Center hosts a Job and Internship Fair where students can network with employers from all different career clusters. The benefit of attending as an undecided student is that you can chat with employers in various career fields to hear what their company does, the positions they are recruiting for, and what skills applicants should possess. It is a fantastic opportunity to find which opportunities sound interesting. This can provide insight into what major you want to declare or what general career area you want to pursue. On the flip side, networking at the fair can also help you decide what you DON’T want to do based on your conversations with the employers who attended.
The Spring Job and Internship Fair will be held on Thursday, February 22 from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. in the Mandela Room and Old Union Hall. There is also a STEM Job and Internship Fair on Wednesday, February 21 from 11 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. in the Mandela Room and Old Union Hall for students interested in STEM opportunities.
- Network on LinkedIn!
Similar to networking with alumni at the Job and Internship Fair, it is also beneficial to network with professionals on LinkedIn. You would be surprised at how many people are willing to share their experiences with students or hold a 15-minute coffee chat to provide insight into their careers. Exploring what Binghamton alumni majored in and then pursued as a career can help current students hone their own interests. These conversations can demonstrate the many possibilities a certain major can offer and can show students whether or not they can envision themselves in a similar role. Networking on LinkedIn also demonstrates real-life examples of what a particular major at Binghamton can lead to. It can be overwhelming thinking about the many job possibilities within a major/career field, but browsing LinkedIn and chatting with professionals can narrow down your search and offer inspiration.
- Reflect on your goals and interests!
You should also evaluate what you are passionate about and what goals you have for yourself following graduation. Think about what classes you have enjoyed, how you spend your free time, what topics you find yourself drawn to, etc. If there is something that stands out, you may want to consider pursuing that further or exploring opportunities that would incorporate that interest, even if it is not a direct match. You are going to be spending a lot of time in your career, and seeking a job that you enjoy can energize you and continue to fuel your passion.
- Seek career guidance!
The Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development is a fantastic resource for Binghamton students exploring their major and career. Students can make an appointment in Handshake or stop in from 12-4 p.m. for a walk-in appointment to discuss any career-related questions. Staff can help you evaluate your options, narrow down your interests, and help you make a better-informed decision about majors and occupations. One tool that may be helpful is the Focus 2 assessment, which helps students with this decision. Students can take the Focus 2 assessment here and make a follow-up appointment to discuss their results with a career consultant and develop an action plan.
Overall, Binghamton offers so many unique opportunities and experiences for students to develop their interests and decide on a major/career. It takes time to make this decision, but by getting involved on campus and using Binghamton’s resources, students can stay informed to help make this decision more manageable.
Lastly, remember that just because you have declared a specific major does NOT mean that you cannot be interested in or pursue a career in an unrelated field. There are so many possibilities and you should not feel limited by your major. Ultimately, it is up to you what career you pursue regardless of your major and in many cases, employers are interested in applicants from all different backgrounds.
