However, to do this a student must have at least an approximate plan, and this requires having good information and using good judgement. In fact, the majority of college students change their original choice of major at least once during their college years. Given the complexity of human personalities and abilities, along with the pressures of economics, family and the multiplicity of career options, arriving at a suitable career goal can be a very difficult task which can be facilitated by the services of the Counseling Center. Students may be undecided about their decisions for various reasons. The pressures for educational and occupational achievement frequently lead to confusion and premature focusing based on limited experiences and information.
Career counseling begins with assessing student needs and establishing counseling goals.
The next step is examining the person's interests, abilities, values, needs and satisfactions. The psychological assessment thus obtained is then examined against the vast array of career options. Different careers have different requirements, not only for abilities but also in their potential for satisfying different kinds of personal needs. This part of counseling relies heavily on psychological testing, college catalogues, occupational reference books, and placement specialists. Students are especially encouraged to talk with academic advisors, people in various careers and to try out different activities through volunteer work, extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, and internships.