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Choosing a Major -
Choosing Your Path

Choosing a major means taking all the information you have gathered about your interests, abilities, values, and personality and matching it to possible areas of study. Dr. John Holland believes that personalities influence career choice and that people with similar personalities and interests are attracted to similar careers. We are usually a combination of characteristics. Consider what you know about yourself. What type of career might interest you? Which major would help you reach your goal?

people and careers

Realistic People who are realistic have athletic ability, prefer to work with objects, machines, tools, plants or animals or prefer to be outdoors.
   
Investigative People who like to observe, learn, investigate, analyze, evaluate or problem solve.
   
Artistic People who have artistic, innovative or intuitional abilities, and like to work in unstructured situations, using their imagination or creativity.
   
Social People who like to work with people, to inform, enlighten, help, train, develop or cure them, or are skilled with words.
   
Enterprising People who like to influence, persuade, perform, lead or manage, for organizational goals or for economic gain.
   
Conventional People who like to work with data, have clerical or numerical ability, carry things out in detail or follow through on others instructions.

To identify your theme code, you may take the Strong Interest Inventory. Students with a declared major consult a coordinator in Career Services by calling 314.516.5111. Students deciding on a major may contact a coordinator in the Center for Student Success at 314.516.5300.

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