With more than 85 majors, minors and certificates, there are many academic paths to take at CU Boulder. Whether you’re looking to add a minor or declare a major, now is a great time to explore different academic paths.
What does it mean to explore? Right now, you have the opportunity to try new things and learn more about what you want to do in the future. Here are some ways to get you started.
Consider your interests and hobbies
How you spend your time outside of the classroom can help you find your academic path. Think about what you enjoy doing in your free time. Do you like to play sports? Take pictures? Blog for fun? Organize plans with friends? Your hobbies and interests can help guide your exploration at CU.
You can connect your interests to your academic life by joining a club through BuffConnect or finding a job on or off campus. There are hundreds of student organizations and on-campus jobs at CU. These opportunities allow you to get an idea of what you’d like to do in the future. At the same time, you can begin developing skills and meet others with similar interests!
Be curious
Curiosity starts in the classes you take. When we get closer to spring registration, look into subjects you may not have had in high school. New areas of study, such as speech, language and hearing sciences; women and gender studies; or astronomy are examples of new subjects to explore. Approaching learning with curiosity can be a great way to explore and discover interests you didn’t know you had.
You can also ask the people you interact with on a daily basis about how they got into their career. Start asking people about their career paths and academic program—faculty, staff, advisors, your family members and friends. Staying curious about the experiences of others can help spark inspiration for your own academic journey.
Find what works for you
Remember that your journey at CU Boulder is a process and it will take time to adjust. This is a time to explore and figure out what learning strategies work best for you.
The classes you take can provide a different learning experience that you find you may or may not enjoy. Your chemistry class will most likely come with a lab component, and an environmental design class may focus on a more hands-on approach. Perhaps your humanities classes will have discussion-based groups, and language courses will focus on your speaking abilities. Taking classes with different learning styles can guide you in discovering what you want to keep doing and what you don’t. The important thing is to embrace all courses as opportunities for learning and growth.
It’s okay to feel all the things about your learning and experience here as a student—excited, frustrated, challenged, confident and uncertain. Keep in mind you can learn from these experiences and feelings and apply them toward your growth and future goals.
Use your resources
When it comes to exploring your interests, don’t forget to use all of the resources available to students:
- Attend office hours and get to know your instructors.
- Stay in touch with your academic advisor and talk about your interests.
- Meet with a career development advisor to explore different paths that might be a good fit.
- Use the Study Spaces & Outdoor Tents filter on the CU Boulder Campus Map to find quiet locations on campus.
- Read CU Boulder Today and check the student events page to find things to do.
Listen to yourself
One of the greatest challenges and most rewarding things about coming to college is the opportunity to explore and discover who you are, who you want to be and how you want to get there.
You get the chance to build awareness and learn more about what you like and don’t like. You can take this time to listen to that inner voice and let curiosity guide you. By trying new things, you can discover what your strengths are and the areas in which you can improve. Check in with yourself with what creates interest for you, in or outside of the classroom.
If you’re unsure how to start, you can make an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss your academic and life goals and learn about other ways to explore your interests.
Resources to help you this semester
Whether you’re looking for study tips, tutoring help or tips for managing stress, take advantage of these resources.
Academic help
- Academic Calendar: Learn about add/drop deadlines, waitlist deadlines and more.
- Get remote learning guidance, including resources, guidance for watching online lectures, tutorials for taking quizzes and exams and more.
- Academic Success Resource Library: This library gives you specific tools and tips to help you consider new approaches to studying, task management and more.
- Academic Success and Achievement Program: ASAP offers free peer tutoring to any student living on campus or first-year commuting students. There are also free webinars throughout the semester with tips on time management, combating virtual fatigue and more.
- Writing Center: The Writing Center offers writers from all academic disciplines and skill levels the opportunity to work one-on-one with professionally trained writing consultants.
- University Libraries: The libraries provide essential scholarly resources, user-centered services, and inclusive and welcoming spaces.
Managing stress
- Counseling and Psychiatric Services: CAPS offers telehealth (virtual) counseling appointments for undergrad and graduate students. New students or students who have not been seen in the past year should make an appointment through their MyCUHealth portal. Current students can call 303-492-2277 or connect with their provider to make an appointment.
- Wellness Wednesdays: This weekly program provides a space to engage in self-care activities, learn about campus resources and build community. Students can participate in the activity and have a one-on-one conversation with an emotional wellness peer educator to create a personalized self-care plan.
- E-Let’s Talk: E-Let’s Talk is a free service offered by CAPS where students can check in via telehealth for an informal and confidential consultation with a counselor. Students commonly visit with concerns about stress, sadness, worry and more. Let’s Talk counselors can help provide insight, solutions and information about additional resources. Learn more about e-Let’s Talk hours.
- SilverCloud online mental health program: Take charge and manage your emotional health and well-being with SilverCloud, an online tool that provides personalized programs to help build skills around stress management, anxiety and depression.
