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Tips to help your student decide on a major

Tips to help your student decide on a major

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

Deciding on a major is a big step for students, and it’s normal if your Buff feels unsure or changes their mind along the way. There are many options and figuring out what aligns with your student’s interests, values and skills can take time. 

The good news: they don’t have to figure it out alone. Career Services and other campus departments offer free tools and support to help students explore and find a path that feels right for them. Here are tips and resources to guide your student in their search for a major or academic program. 

Expanding self-awareness 

Encourage your student to think about the classes they’ve enjoyed, either at CU Boulder or in high school, and the ones that didn’t quite click. 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.

Your Buff can also try using the Career Values Card Sort, a free tool to help them discover what matters most to them in a career. 

Exploring different career paths

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 has narrowed down some areas of interest, 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.

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. They can also connect with Career Services at any time in their academic journey to identify next steps and learn more about finding a major.