College Knowledge for the Community College Student

Chapter 9. Look Beyond the First Year of Community College

1. Explore Possible Majors If you are attending community college as preparation for transfer to a four-year school, you may be asked when you apply to transfer whether you have completed the prerequisites for your major or concentration. This means that, in addition to completing your general university requirements, you will need to have decided on a major. Some students come into community college very certain about what they want to study. Many, however, come to community college wanting to explore a wide range of subject areas and topics and are undecided about a major. 170 9 CHAPT ER 9: Look Beyond the First Year 171 Students who have already decided their field of study prior to coming to community college may already be taking the required courses for their majors, such as art, engineering, or nursing. Even within these fields, however, students will need to make decisions about subfields of study during their undergraduate years. Another group of students who often appear certain about their choice of major are those who are considered preprofessional. Students who plan to attend law school often major in political science, and those interested in a career in business often choose economics . These students limit their choice of majors as a result of the widespread myth that it’s essential to have those particular majors in order to gain admission to law or business school, respectively. That is simply not the case. Choose a major in a field that you find stimulating, not one that holds little or no interest for you. Students planning to apply to medical school are required to complete many prerequisites during their undergraduate studies . Unlike their preprofessional peers in law and business, many of these highly competitive students feel pressured to double- or triple-major in order to look good on their medical school applications , so they choose to major in a science discipline like biology as well as a discipline in the social sciences or humanities. It’s not necessary for you to double-major, but at least for these more narrowly focused students, this choice allows them to get a broader liberal arts education. Most students arrive at community college undecided about their major. Most high school curricula, and indeed, most jobs, provide College Knowledge/Community College Student 172 little opportunity to even begin to imagine the vast world of ideas and fields of study. Both preprofessional and undecided students are well known for changing their minds about their major multiple times during their community college careers. Don’t think of that as a problem. It’s a natural step in the decision-making process as you take intriguing courses in new fields and then begin to pursue those subject areas in greater depth. 2. Check Out Your Community College Employment and Career Center Whether you are certain about your major or undecided, in a professional-technical program, or planning to transfer to a four-year college or university, you will definitely want to visit the employment and career center at your community college if available. Even if you plan to transfer to a four-year college, you will want and need to work to support yourself. You will want to take advantage of the wealth of resources that can help you make informed choices as you progress toward your goals. If you are a transfer student and are undecided about a major, there are academic advisors who can help you puzzle out your choices. They are skilled at helping you think through your own interests and strengths and at directing you to resources that can help you understand how you can use your major once you gradu- 9: Look Beyond the First Year 173 ate. They can help you assess your choices for transfer colleges and decide which courses you should take to help you reach your goals. If you are considering transferring to a four-year college, carefully investigate the course and grade requirements for transfer students. Look into guaranteed admissions programs available in some states. Pay close attention to the strict guidelines. No matter what your educational goals are—completing an occupational program or ultimately earning a four-year degree—staff in the career services office can help you to select a major or career path. Most have a library of resources (books, magazines, videos, and Internet links) so that you can research various occupational fields and the labor market. Check...