Many students have difficulty deciding on a major in college. Some students remain undecided, while others frequently change their majors. However, a new Web site offers students assistance in making a choice.
The College Majors Project is designed to use a questionnaire to help students choose a major.
According to the College Majors Project Web site, students who visit the site can complete a personality questionnaire, which takes into account several factors, including motivation, work styles, needs and thought styles.
Students are given their results, which explain their characteristics and what majors may be suitable for them.
Paul Ivey, University College associate dean, said this semester, all undecided majors in the University Center for Freshman Year are required to go to the College Majors Project Web site, fill out the questionnaire and discuss their results with a counselor.
“It’s the first step to help them make a choice,” Ivey said. “It’s their first official introduction to career discovery.”
Nanette Cheatham, a UCFY counselor, said many undecided students who visit the center have the problem of being interested in so many things.
“There’s so many interests that they have, or they can’t connect their interests to majors,” Cheatham said.
David Barrs, CEO of Visionspan Careers, one of the firms founding the project, said Visionspan first offered career counseling, then branched out to do the same type of work with college students.
Barrs said students often need help deciding what to do once in college.
“They honestly don’t have a clue what they want to do,” he said.
The questionnaire on the Web site uses the Birkman method, which measures personality, interest and motivation instead of perceptions and assumptions.
Barrs said after students take the test, they can then see how they compare to other students who took the test and see which students and majors they are most like.
Barrs said although the Web site and program is new, he has been “blown away by the response rate.”
Barrs said in addition to promoting the program on college campuses, his company has tried to contact professors who may be able to recommend it to students.
Barrs said the test is able to give students “really sound feedback” and help them make informed choices about their majors.
“It could save a year or two in school,” Barrs said.
Students said the Web site could be beneficial but only if it was used properly.
Jennifer Robbins, a family, child and consumer science senior, said she thought using the Web site and questionnaire could be a starting point for students who are undecided.
Erin Adams, a family, child and consumer science senior, said she thought students should not base their choice of a major solely on the results of a Web site but that it could give students an idea of what might be best for them.
For more information, students can visit the College Majors Project Web site at www.collegemajorsproject.org.