The EDUFAX Educational FAQ

Question #16:

I have been in the military for five years and am now interested in going to college, but I don't know what I want to study. I do not want to go to a college and one day find out that what I want to study is not taught there. How do I find out about different majors and how long it takes to get a degree in that major? How can I learn about what classes are required for certain degrees and what colleges offer them? Please help! (courtesy Catalina Figueroa, Roswell NM)

Answer #16:

Some people choose to go to a liberal arts college and sample classes in varied disciplines before deciding on a specific course of study. In most colleges, students are not required to declare a major until the end of sophomore year. You are absolutely correct, however, in assuming that you might develop an interest in a field which your school does not offer. Although there are no guarantees for what life will present, it is a good idea to do some career and interest exploration before you commit to a college or to a major which might later prove inappropriate. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a wonderful instrument for measuring your preferences in life. When properly interpreted, it can help you understand what kinds of things you like to do, how you like to do them, and even the types of people with whom you like to do them. There are also career instruments, such as the Strong II, which can help you identify interest clusters in the world of work which interest you and others which do not. A good career counseling center, either in the military or in the community where you are based, should be able to administer these or similar tests, and discuss their outcomes with you. You can also look through Barron's Index of College Majors, published by Barron's Educational Series, Inc., and similar books which are published to show students what majors are available at different colleges. Once you identify a field that interests you, you can contact a college or university (by phone or on the web) to get detailed information about a course of study and projected time line for a specific major. A little time invested before you begin school will save you a lot of time transferring out of a program chosen in haste. I am sure that the time you have spent in the military has helped make you aware of your talents and interests. I am sure you will able to utilize this awareness in a satisfying academic and professional pathway. EDUFAX provides services for the Adult/Non-Traditional/Re-entry Student.

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