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8 POETRY COMPUTER SCIENCE ENGINEERING ecology wr i te r KINESIOLOGY VIDEO GAME DESIGN URBAN FARMING PRE DENTAL UI DESIGN WEB DEV CODING CONSTRUCTION MGMT logistics IMAGING SCIENCE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING IT EXERCISE SCIENCE MYTHOLOGY w r i te r FORESTRY BROADCAST non profit PAINTING SUPPLY CHAIN MGMT C O NST R UCT IO N MG MT MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING MBA MEDIA RN BSN PRE MED MBA STRENGTHSSPORTS MANAGEMENT PRODUCER MARKETING ENGINEERING RN BSNARCHITECTURE MEDIA THEATRE ENERGY SCIENCE STATISTICS IMAGING SCIENCE ENTERTAINMENT APPAREL DESIGN PUBLIC RELATIONS IMAGING SCIENCE SPORTS MGMT language studies MGMT APPAREL DESIGNFAMILY SCIENCE STUDI O ART logistics IMAGING SCIENCE MEDIA ARTS MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT sociology IMAGING SCIENCE language studies LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE GRAPHIC DESIGN PRE DENTAL S TUDIO ART APPAREL DESIGN ui INDUSTRIAL DESIGN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AVIATION ecology PHILOSOPHY PRE DENTAL SOCIAL SCIENCE INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING BROADCAST NURSING AERONAUTICS MARINE SCIENCE ENERGY SCIENCE VETERINARY MEDICINE INDUSTRIAL DESIGN PUBLIC HEALTH GENDER STUDIES internship film MIS STATISTICS risk mgmt APPAREL DESIGN SOCI A L SCI EN CE AERONAUTICS KINESIOLOGY PHARMACY MIS EMERGENCY MGMT MARKETING COACH MUSIC ARTS MANAGEMENT PRE MEDICAL md GOVERNMEMENT ACCOUNTING LINGUISTICS CIVIL ENGINEERING writingURBAN PLANNING FOOD SCIENCE SOC IA L SC IE N C E ui DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING ASTRONOMY POLITICS PRE MEDICAL WEB DESIGN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING Advice on college majors careers and leading a productive life is everywhere and we all have our favorite words of wisdom Recently I read these by Howard Thurman Don t ask what the world needs Ask what makes you come alive and go do it Because what the world needs is people who have come alive These words inspire and provoke how should students answer the call NG S E C T E L I A SE G N FOR WOODWARD ACADEMY LECTI AND By using the many resources at hand and owning the choice Few things in life are more momentous than choosing and devoting oneself to an academic or career pursuit Often we drift into vocations for the most unexamined of reasons promise of wealth or prestige obedience fear pressure pleasure or simply the path of least resistance While the choice might work out fine regardless imagine the possibilities for the intrepid soul who musters the courage to explore and venture informed by but not beholden to others For students who have planted their feet and declared This choice is mine there remains the question Now what 1 Have a high school emphasis or passion project Think about it Much of grades 9 and 10 are taken up with general diploma requirements 2 But by grade 11 students usually have a sense of whether they prefer STEM humanities social sciences or fine arts Junior and senior years can be a time to dive deeper or double up in what is most appealing Besides the boost this could give to college admission the deep diver learns whether the chosen subject is ripe for further exploration a college major preview High school and college are not silos of learning they are rivers that flow together It s intentional that these tips blend high school college and career Over the long haul one s career continually evolves in light of personal and ambient circumstances Expect surprises good and bad and use both to learn and propel into new opportunities Choosing a college major is not a lifetime commitment to one thing in fact students never have to commit to only one academic field of study how boring that would be At least one third of college coursework will be elective meaning freedom to study whatever the student wants Start early by building strength in more than one area strength that could evolve into an academic minor or a double major Colleges aid this approach by planning foundational coursework first these courses lead to any degree conferred When a change of 3

direction occurs which it usually does there is less inconvenience or none at all There are exceptions Students choosing to major in for example fine arts or architecture should expect to make an earlier and deeper commitment Likewise engineering and health related students should pay special attention to math and science in high school and college Know that meaningful prosperous careers can be found in the humanities social sciences and fine arts Practitioners of these disciplines cultivate the ability to speak and write well understand human nature and diversity lead and collaborate and think nimbly and creatively all vital qualities in current job markets If you need more evidence refer to the job prospects and salaries found at WorldWideLearn Still wavering Check out the online resources offered by Savannah College of Art and Design which has declared there will be no starving artists Or read about career options at dynamic Emerson College Wherever the college search leads always take time to scout the college s career services options George Washington University s Center for Career Services for example sets a high standard to explore and compare 4 Finding the right books or directories is key Here are some gems each focusing on a vital aspect of college major career or meaningful life Where You Go Is Not Who You ll Be by Frank Bruni abundant higher education options in accessible destinations that might surprise There Is Life After College by Jeffrey Selingo roadmap for an undergraduate life that propels a young adult into meeting current employer expectations The College Finder by Steven Antonoff varied and detailed lists of just about every college criterion imaginable and Wait What And Life s Other Essential Questions by James E Ryan larger questions that we all need to address to live meaningful lives These books are illuminating and have the added bonus of being great reads Selingo identifies the following mature and winning qualities that students of all ages should bring to career and life curiosity creativity grit digital awareness contextual thinking and humility 5 Nothing replaces first hand college visits and conversations with experts closest to the action During college visits high school students should try to arrange a conversation with a professor in their area of interest and if possible talk with a college junior or senior majoring in that interest Admission offices are often able to arrange such conversations Similarly make use of existing networks of family friends teachers counselors and others who can be advisors and sounding boards Here s a tip Instead of asking others where to go to college or what to major in students could consider saying to trusted others Please describe my personal strengths and challenges what seems to motivate me or bring joy I can take it from there Students take it there by arranging to shadow a professional or finding a paying job to learn about their area of interest as well as independence the value of a dollar the business world teamwork and punctuality 6 Make use of interest and personality inventories and online search engines For example the Naviance online college search and selection program has options for Strengths Explorer Do What You Are Learning Style Inventory and Multiple Intelligence Advantage These inventories can be illuminating even if they do not reveal exactly which college major one should choose A popular online college criterion search engine is the College Board s Big Future The University of Georgia offers a terrific search engine that enables students to select a major read a keen summary of that major and profession and then select related majors and continue the search Using this site students can navigate the braided nexus of academic disciplines and careers 7 Above all keep in mind that a vocation is part of life not life itself The poet Robert Frost invited readers and himself to unite vocation and avocation what we do and what we love so that we might be spiritual as well as practical Another poet Raymond Carver invited us to wonder what each of us would want when all the working and living are done His answer To call myself beloved to feel myself beloved on the earth Surely there are many paths to this worthy goal 8 about the author Bryan Rutledge has served as director of college counseling at Woodward Academy since July 2015 Previously he was director of college counseling at St John s School in Houston TX for 19 years and director of college guidance at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School Kingston PA for six years He has taught AP English Southern Literature Civil War history and philosophy all on the high school level He holds an M A in philosophy from the University of Virginia and a B A in sociology psychology and philosophy from Millsaps College He oversees a staff of five college counselors and an administrative coordinator