One in three students who graduate will say they wished they studied something else for their degree.
Because of that, the University Advising Center at Texas Tech offers the DISCOVERY! Major Map and Academic Physical, a program dedicated to helping students learn about their academic needs and goals as well as give insight into the students' best fit major and career field.
"You need a goal, an action plan to reach that goal, a timeline for that plan and an accountability plan for a timeline," said Elizabeth Teagan, director of the center. "If students don't have a goal, they flounder. We all need goals in order to thrive."
The program works by evaluating students based on four different qualities and traits: values, skills, interests and abilities. The four traits are listed in order of importance, she said, and help students form an idea of what the best-fit major is for them.
Through a series of individual exercises, one-on-one meetings with the program's advisers and tests that show the four qualities and traits of students, Teagan said, the student begins to filter preconceived notions of what they would be best suited for and most interested in.
"We set up DISCOVERY! so that students could see it's not just about listening to the media, listening to your families, listening to your peers or looking for money," she said. "It's really important for students to see the difference between impulse decisions and carefully and deliberately though out decisions."
Aaron Rask, from Abilene, said the program was a great help in showing him what he could study and what career path he could follow.
"I was convinced that I was going to get my finance degree and do my law degree and I was going to be in finance law," Rask said. "When I actually did the research behind it, I kind of found that I just liked the way it sounded, and is not what I liked."
Teagan said part of the program is about teaching students self-confidence in their ability to make decisions.
"Students are not typically introduced to decision-making in high school," Teagan said. "This lack of self-efficacy is the reason the majority of students are not able to make confident decisions about their majors."
Rask said the program was invaluable in helping him make decisions about his future at Tech, and he would encourage all students, even those who seem sure of their major selection, to try the program.
"You may make a better personal financial counselor for instance than you would a doctor," Rask said. "You really need to break down any walls of what you just think sounds cool."
Teagan also said she encourages all students to enroll in the program.
"We teach students about decision making," Teagan said. "It's a skill set they can use for all their lives."
For more information about the program, visit the university's Web site, www.depts.ttu.edu/advising/discovery/.
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