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Free tools and tips to help your student decide on a major

Students studying at tables

Is your student thinking of changing their major, or trying to narrow down their options and decide on one? 

Choosing a major can often feel like an overwhelming decision. There are many options and figuring out what aligns with your student’s interests, values and skills takes time. Remember, it’s completely normal for students to feel uncertain about their major or change their mind later. Here are tips and free resources to help guide your student in their search for a major or academic program. 

Expanding self-awareness  

Encourage your student to think about their current classes at CU Boulder as well as high school classes to determine the subject areas they enjoy most and least. They could consider these questions:

  • What subjects interest them the most? For example, do they enjoy solving math problems or learning about history? 
  • What are they good at academically? For example, are they skilled at analyzing data, conducting science experiments or writing essays?
  • What causes or ideas excite them? For example, are they passionate about social justice, environmental advocacy or technology?
  • What are the subjects they enjoy discussing with friends or family?
  • What classes or activities feel too hard or boring? 

By exploring the study areas and activities your student loves or dislikes, they can rule out certain majors and focus on those that fit their preferences.

  • Career Values Card Sort is a simple self-reflection tool that helps clarify your student’s values and highlights what’s most important to them.

Exploring majors and careers  

Your student’s choice of major doesn’t have to dictate their future career—some majors align closely with specific paths, while others provide broader skills that are applicable across various fields.  

It can be helpful to see how different majors relate to certain careers. These tools can help your student explore based on their goals and abilities:

  • Majors Card Sort: This is a free online tool that can help your student identify the top CU Boulder majors that align with their goals.
  • Programs from a Different Lens: This webpage allows students to explore more programs that have the same key features as the majors that interest them. They can find information on course topics, learning outcomes and how classes are taught.
  • Informational interviews: Encourage your student to schedule informational interviews with professionals in their fields of interest. They can ask about the professional’s academic journey to learn how it influenced them professionally. Your student can also connect with other Buffs in the majors they’re considering as well to understand what their experience has been like. 

Learning and researching  

Once your student homes in on a few study areas, they should research those majors to determine whether they are a good fit using these available tools: 

  • Degree audits: This tool allows your student to find out the required courses and credit hours needed to graduate. Department websites and the university catalog can provide additional information.
  • Academic advisors: If your student is not in a rush to declare, they could take a class or two in a major they are interested in and consult with an advisor from that area of study for course recommendations. Your student can also ask questions about the major to determine if it matches their interests and goals. 
  • Ralphie’s Advising Help Lab: While this doesn’t replace appointments, Ralphie’s Advising Help Lab is a supplemental resource that allows your student to access general advising or enrollment help quickly. They can get assistance with dropping courses, switching majors and answering other advising questions.
  • Handshake: Pursuing an on-campus job is a great way for students to discover new passions while gaining professional experience. Your student can use Handshake to search for available student positions. 
  • BuffConnect: Your student can discover and join student organizations to explore new interests.

Staying positive  

Choosing a major is a journey, not a race. If your student is ready to decide, that’s great. If not, that’s perfectly fine. Encourage them to keep a positive outlook, try a few of these tips, have fun exploring and meet with a member of the Career Services team to identify next steps together. For more information, check out Find a Major from Career Services.