Page 30 of Antelope Valley College 1995-1996 Catalog by Antelope Valley Community College Lancaster California

28 Myths and Facts About Majors and Careers Myths and Facts About Majors and Careers Myths about the relationship between your major and career goals abound. When you choose a major, you should have no misconceptions about the undergraduate preparation you will need to pursue your goals. Several popular myths about majors and careers are dispelled below. Myth: When you choose a college major, you are choosing a career. Fact: A study conducted by the College Placement Council found that the majority of college graduates are successfully employed in fields not directly related to their academic majors. A few majors such as engineering, computer science, and accounting prepare students for fairly specific career fields, but most majors, especially in the liberal arts, give graduates a wide range of career options. Myth: Liberal Arts majors are not employable. Fact: Liberal Arts majors develop skills Time Management that are highly valued by employers and that are applicable to a wide variety of professional jobs. If these graduates sometimes take longer to find a niche in the working world, it is because they have not defined their goals or are unaware of their options. Myth: You must pursue certain specific undergraduate majors to gain admission to postgraduate professional schools in fields such as business, law or medicine. Fact: While some postgraduate pro- fessional schools require or recommend certain academic prerequisites, in most cases they do not require a specific major. In other instances, they may be looking for the development of certain broad skills, such as the ability to read and write critically. In short, you may major in a wide variety of academic fields; there is no pre -med, pre -law, or pre -business major that will help you get into graduate school. Myth: You cannot do much beyond working hard at classes in your major to improve your chances of career success. Fact: Courses outside your major and independent study projects are important, too. You will gain valuable experience by participating in extracurricular activities such as student organizations, sports, social groups, and student government. In addition, internships, summer jobs, and volunteer activities will help you define your interests, develop skills, strengthen your resume, and establish professional contacts in the working world. Myth: Your first job will determine your career. Therefore you ought to be completely sure of your choice when you make an academic or career decision. Fact: You cannot be entirely sure of any decision. Each career has its advantages and disadvantages; any choice involves some risk. You can change your mind. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average person changes careers three times in a lifetime-and even within a specific field, you are usually free to explore new directions. Time Management One of the keys to a successful college career is to have good time management. By definition, time management is the effective selection of the best task from all those available, and completing it to the best of your ability. Making the right choices about how you spend your time is the most important decision for you to make. The big pay-off is that you can have control of your life. Getting control starts with planning. The following page is devoted to assisting you with planning your time schedule for college. Unlike the formal structure of a high school schedule, a college schedule can be unstructured. You and you alone control the schedule you choose. Many sections of the same class are offered at various times of the day. It is possible to arrange your schedule so that you attend school on select days of the week. In other words, it is not mandatory for you to go to school Monday through Friday. Because of all the flexibility involved in your college schedule, it is important to include other aspects of your life in your planning such as working, family commitments and recreational activities. In fact, you are encouraged to take into consideration all aspects of your life when planning your college class schedule. To ease some of the confusion you might be experiencing, we have designed a sample schedule for you. It includes class time, study time, work time and leisure time. Note that the student taking 13 units has arranged 24 hours of study time. Note also that the student works 20 hours per week. Please refer to the following recommended guidelines to determine your work load. If you work Take no more than 40 hours per week 30 hours per week 20 hours per week 5-15 hours per week 6 units 9 units 12 units 14-16 units Below are other suggested guidelines to help you: Athletic eligibility Take at least 12 units Veterans Benefits Take at least Full-time pay 12 units Three-fourths pay 9 units One-half pay 6 units Full-time student status Take at least 12 units

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