The Collegio Pittsburg's student voice since 1916
Choosing a major is an important part of being a college student. It is essentially choosing the field or career students hope to enter after graduation, but this is no easy choice for some.
The Exploratory Studies Program and Career Services presented the Majors Fair on Thursday, Oct. 24 in the Crimson and Gold Ballrooms in the Overman Student Center which is held to help undeclared majors narrow down their choices.
Students were given the opportunity to look into different programs, internships and job opportunities, and even student organizations that are associated in each program.
Booths were set up by departments all around campus. They had information about the programs and life in the workforce after graduation.
“The majors fair is set up to assist students in particular who are undeclared,” said director of Student Success Programs Heather Eckstein said. “We call it the Exploratory Studies program meaning they haven’t decided on a major but are seeking to do that. We invite all of the academic departments to have a booth with information and a faculty advisor who can answer questions about their programs to the students who attend. We put just about every department in one room and a student can go from department to department if they’re interested in multiple right there in the ballroom rather than having to go all around campus.”
Director of career services Mindy Cloninger believes that the majors fair is an “excellent way for students who are attempting to select a major to get a real-world perspective of what that major would translate to when they enter the workplace.”
“… The majors fair is an excellent opportunity for undeclared majors to visit with the experts in each of our programs on campus, people that can answer questions for them about what the program is really about,” Cloninger said. “And then also, what our past graduates of that program (are) doing with their degree from Pitt State so they can learn about what other students who actually (have) gone through those programs are doing now out in the workplace…”
Undeclared sophomore Parker Samford attended the event.
“…Before going in, I wasn’t too sure as to what the departments would offer at least not specifically,” Samford said. “But afterwards, I got to know more about the individual programs, the salaries of the jobs it would offer after graduation, the graduation rate and things of that nature.”
Samford has a couple of ideas about what he wants to major in.
“…I would say that before I really declare a major, I would need to go and visit some of the places they recommended and get the tours and whatnot,” Samford said. “But the event itself helped narrow it down.”
Navigating life in college can be tough, so Eckstein was happy to see all the departments and faculty from departments at the event.
“… We really do appreciate every department participating,” Eckstein said. “It’s very helpful to our students to know that there are faculty members waiting for them in those departments to advise them into programs and careers where they will find success.”