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Some careers require specific majors, others don’t. For example,
it is unlikely that you will get a job in accounting if you didn’t
at least major in a related field and take some accounting classes.
On the other hand, if you are considering a career in law you might
be surprised to learn of the wide variety of majors that will support
that choice.
If you are fairly sure what kind of career you want to go into,
don’t just make assumptions about what you have to major in, do
some research and find out. We want you to be happy not only with
your ultimate career, but with your college experience as well.
Don’t major in something you dislike just because it seems that
it will get you where you want to go in the end.
If you have no idea of what kind of career you would like, don’t
worry; except for a few specific careers, your major does not necessarily
determine the course of the rest of your life. Think about what
you are interested in, make a list, then come in to our office and
see a career counselor who can help guide you through the process.
This is not the one and only turning point in your life, so relax
and use the resources of our office and our campus to help you with
your decision-making.
For additional help on making these decisions, see our list of websites
that will help you connect majors with careers, as well as assessing
your interests, skills, personal values, and personality.
When the time comes for you to graduate, we hope you will be able
to look back and know that you learned a great deal about many things,
and that you have grown as a person as a result of your college
experiences. Much of this learning takes place in the context of
your academic program. Much also takes place in the greater context
of your college experience. What you do when you are not studying
will help you to learn more about yourself, gain experience that
will help you in the “real world,” and provide a foundation for
helping you to gain employment when the time comes. We call this
total experience the “Mosaic,” and here are some of the elements
for your consideration.
Internships and Summer/Part-time Jobs can be a wonderful
way to learn about various career fields and job types, as well
as gain solid experience. To learn more about internships and other
experiential opportunities, see the Internships
section on this website.
Volunteer Experiences can give you an opportunity to give
back to the community and learn about things other than what you
might encounter in a typical academic day. There are many ways to
be of service, and there is bound to be something that is right
for you. Volunteering is something you do to give of yourself; the
rewards you reap are icing on the cake. To learn about opportunities
available to you as a BU student, see the Community
Service Center.
Extracurricular/Student Activities can involve many things,
from clubs to sports to student government and residence hall responsibilities.
Participating in these things makes your college experience richer,
can provide a needed social outlet, and gives you the experience
of working within a team or an organization to get things accomplished.
There will be opportunities for leadership, as well as opportunities
to be a supportive team member while others are leading. On top
of it all, you will be doing something you enjoy, or learning something
new. For more information on extracurricular and other student activities,
see the BU Student
Activities Office.
Study or Travel Abroad offers students the chance to experience
a new culture, try out a new language, and see things from a different
point of view. Please consider an international experience of some
sort during your college years or shortly after graduation. For
information on study abroad opportunities with BU, see the BU
Study Abroad program.
Other Coursework unrelated to your major is not only OK,
it is encouraged! In some cases this additional coursework can be
used as a foundation for building a career or securing a job; it
might give you knowledge and skills that combine well with your
major and help you achieve your goals. In other cases, it might
allow you to explore one of those other interests that has been
nagging at you for attention but which you never got the chance
to indulge. Once you have accounted for all of the courses required
for your major as well as related courses you really want to take
out of interest, you might find that there are still spaces in your
schedule for other things. Please consider taking something just
because you want to.
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