Middle Tennessee State University Parent Guide
Career Planning Resources
What are the resources for helping your student get more information about a major and/or a career? Before your student declares a major, they should explore campus resources including academic advisors, faculty or department chairs and career counselors.
Academic Advisers
Academic advising offices offer a wealth of information about college programs, minors and course schedules and selection. They exist primarily to help college students maneuver through the sometimes complex academic landscape and choose a major. Teens and new college students should know that academic advisers are not just there to pick classes, but to advise students about college programs. Academic advisers know the college catalog thoroughly. Encourage your new college student to connect with and become acquainted with academic advisors as soon as they arrive on campus.
Faculty and Department Chairs
University faculty and department chairs can share insights and nuances about a major that a college student might not have considered. Visit professors during office hours and ask questions about faculty specialties, research interest and classes in the major. Faculty can tell college students new directions within careers and ultimately the majors required to succeed. Faculty also can connect students with recent alumni and make a recommendation for someone with whom a student could do an informational interview.
Career Centers
The best first step is for your student to visit the college career center. Most career centers have a wide variety of career exploration resources, from career assessments to work-shadowing alumni in fields of interest. Many colleges have career-mentoring programs where alumni, parents, and their friends volunteer to serve as career mentors or advisers. This offers the opportunity for both the student and parent to get involved together. Students can contact these volunteers to learn more about their career field and to network. Your involvement would send a positive message to your student regarding the importance of career exploration, plus strengthen the overall career-mentoring program in which your student participates.
If your student’s college or university currently doesn’t have a career mentoring program, one can be started with you and your business contacts. In the interim, you may wish to identify your own business contacts in a range of interests with whom your student can schedule brief exploratory meetings.
