Not Sure What to Major in? Visit ACES.

Sound familiar?

Even though I had already spent some time in high school and community college taking courses that piqued my interest, I still didn't know what my true calling was. A LOT of fields appealed to me, and I also had to consider which ones would be lucrative as well as fulfilling. Choosing a major felt like a daunting, anxiety-inducing decision that I wasn't prepared to make. I needed some help.

Before my first semester at UW started, I made an appointment with a career counselor at ACES (Advising, Career, Exploratory Studies Center). In truth, I felt nervous--nervous that I would already be expected to have some sort of plan, when I still felt very adrift. My worries, however, were soon abolished.

We started from scratch. We discussed my interests, my skills, and what I thought I might want out of a career. My counselor had me take multiple personality and aptitude tests that confirmed aspects of myself I already knew and uncovered new ones. She also gave me some more information on the wide breadth of programs that UW offered and turned the swirling mass of unknowns in my head into a logical analysis of options.

After my second appointment at ACES, I left knowing exactly what I wanted to major in and what career options it might lead me to. Shockingly, I found that my goals and interests had completely changed since high school and community college. ACES helped me realize that.

What ACES can offer you

Choosing a major is a huge decision, and online research isn't always the best method for deciding your path. Whether you're completely lost in the process or need to decide between two final options, ACES career counselors can give you more insight on where your skills and personality type might be best suited.

Besides helping you explore majors, the ACES team can:

• Get you started with Exploratory Studies. This program allows undeclared students to take a wide range of classes relevant to their broad interests with an eye towards choosing a major.

• Connect you with further resources. ACES can help you uncover everything campus has to offer and get you where you need to go based on your needs.

• Tell you what career fields your major is geared towards. Sometimes we jump into a program without really knowing where it's taking us. ACES counselors can help with nailing down a career goal based on your current studies. You can also visit the webpage for assistance in this area.

• Help you find jobs and internships. If you're looking for a summer internship or are close to graduating, they can provide you with resources for finding a job or internship that fits your needs.