This presentation was given to students at the Women's Leadership Conference at Michigan State University. The title of the workshop was Major Dilemma: Declared, Undecided, or Simply Unsure?

1. Sarah Siewert
sarahsiewert@gmail.com
http://sarahesiewert.com
Women’s Leadership Conference
November 23, 2008

3. Photo source:
Neutron, LLC

4. Photo source:
Neutron, LLC

5. Photo source:
Neutron, LLC

6. I thought knew
that I was
going to be
a…
Dorm room door
Bryan Hall, Brody Complex

7. Maple Veterinary
Hospital volunteer
PETSMART
Grooming Salon
Bather
Love for animals

8. Hi, I’m
Jessica
Hey I’m
Sarah
Where are
you from?
Sterling
Heights, you?
Grand Rapids.
So, what’s
your major? Umm well…I
uh am still
deciding
between…

9. I won’t graduate on time.
School is expensive!
It stresses me out.
My parents are pressuring me.
How am I supposed to
know what I want to do for
the rest of my life?
What if I make the wrong
choice?

10. A Metaphoric Moment with Michelangelo
Michelangelo
believed that every
stone had a
sculpture inside it
and his job as a
sculptor was to
simply chip away
all that was not a
Photo by Jay8085
part of the statue.

11. (Unlike my Mom, I’m not referring to a negative attitude)
Think about your likes and dislikes
Join student organizations
Talk to professors and peers
Do an informational interview
Talk to a career counselor
Apply for an internship
Make an appointment with your adviser
Job shadow
Stalk your facebook friends and see what
groups they are involved in
Ask questions

12. Step 1: Get a notecard
Step 2: Write your name at the top
Step 3: Write three of your passions – it can
be anything!
Step 4: Pass your card
Step 5: For every new card you receive, read
that person’s passions and write at
least one suggestion of a major,
class, student organization, career,
or contact you know of that relates
to their list

13. Nicolas Gisholt
Academic Adviser
College of Social Science

14. Number one question asked: what can I do with
my major?
It’s okay to cry it out – this can be emotional
What you choose as your major does not
necessarily dictate your career path
Don’t consider yourself confused, but curious
Post-graduation you have 50 years of
professional life, an extra semester will not kill
your career
Always get experience outside of the classroom
You can learn skills from any job or project

15. Career Services has a YouTube channel?
You can take a Career Assessment Test?
Student Organizations are all listed with
contact information?
You can search for internships on My Spartan
Career?
The Career Service Network has tons of online
resources and tips?

16. Photo by viva la vibs

17. Visit http://sarahesiewert.com for a blog post
about how nervous I was to make this
presentation
Leave a comment on the post telling me what
action steps you have taken to move towards
your academic and professional goals
Connect with me on facebook, linkedin or
twitter for follow up questions or just
because!
Download these slides