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Deciding not to Decide
Sometimes it might feel as though you should decide on a career just so you’ll have something to tell all the people asking your major. But career counselors say that there is no need to make a decision about your major until you’re ready, which might mean after your college freshman year or later. “It varies so much from one kid to another, but unless you’re ready, there is certainly no need to decide in high school, even though some friends and relatives may think there is,” says Bob Lent, professor and coordinator of counseling programs at the University of Maryland in College Park. “Some cakes take longer to bake than others.” Being undecided means you could miss out on work experience opportunities or finishing required courses earlier.
How-ever, the benefits that come from an early decision often outweigh the value of careful consideration. Look carefully and hard. Experts say to consider any type of job available, as long as you explore your options with energy. Marc Kurans, a high school counselor in Racine, WI, warns that while it’s fine to be undecided, that doesn’t mean you should do nothing. Doing nothing to find a major can put you behind. He suggests giving serious, honest thought to your interests, then investigating the fields that seem to match them.
Lent says you need three ingredients to be able to make a good decision about the career direction you’d like to take: knowledge of yourself; knowledge of the world of work; and an ability to put those two together. “Kids should figure out what their interests and strengths are, and learn about careers in various fields,” Kurans says. “Then they need to figure out how the two mix.” That process can be done in your head or on paper with a simple grid that lists your values along one side and your career options across the top. Then investigate choices and note if they offer those things important to you, such as a high salary, travel, outdoors work, creativity, or an opportunity to deal with children. Kurans notes that there are online services to help you do such evaluations.
Guidance counselors can also help. There is a ton of material about career choices. Your job is to consider your interests and keep an open mind. Many times, your research will help you select the best path. Or it may simply help you decide what you don’t want to do. Both are just as important, so don’t be discouraged if a field that looks appealing at first eventually looses its charm. Go with your gut. People are often connected to a career because of a single encounter with it. That could mean watching a movie where a character has a particular job or admiring someone in a particular position. Pay attention to those kinds of signals, because they can lead you to something you might really love.
However, remaining undecided is still a good idea until you check the field out. A lot of people get degrees in a major because of a glamorized idea of what it might be like, then find out the work is much different than they expected.
In fact, Kurans says, if you poll adults about their career choices, most will undoubtedly say that they are not doing what they intended to do. Their first career choice was not something they wanted to continue to pursue. The system can handle it. You should be supported for your decision not to decide. Your high school counselor will appreciate the fact that you are undecided and can help your exploration.
Colleges are structured to let you complete the required work in your major after a freshman year of exploration. Colleges often have a major for the first year sometimes called “general studies,” in which students can explore different fields without yet declaring a major. Though it is helpful if you choose a college based on a major, most schools offer a wide range of study areas. There are a lot of people who narrow their interests before choosing a college and then change their major. Likewise, there are a lot of people who remain undecided. A university system allows for that sort of thing, which relieves some of your pressure to decide.
The other pressures, from family and friends asking about your plans or coaxing you in a certain direction, are a bit harder to handle. Kurans suggests developing a comfortable reply to face these situations with ease. In other words, get a routine down, even if it stretches the truth a bit. It allows you a way to respond to that question you’ll hear over and over. Although you really haven’t decided on a major, you might answer that question by saying “I’m not certain about it, but I’m interested in (insert activity here).”
At one time, people held one job throughout their adult life. So sometimes, people expect that sort of decision. But today, experts say most people will have six or seven different jobs in their lifetime and often several careers. A lot of us are more undecided than we ever let on.
Check out these undecided-friendly Web sites: www.collegeboard.org College Board On-line is from the folks who bring you the big test. Click on “explore” on the home page, then choose “career search” under “tools you’ll need.” You’ll get a page with a test to help you define your interests and a description about a bunch of different careers. www.self-directed-search.com Here’s a spot that will help you with a test and a thorough report all about you. It costs $8.95 and is based on the respected Holland approach to determining career interests. Article provided by 
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