Who can help me decide on a major?
Go back to Frequently Asked Questions by International Students.
Who? |
How can they help me make a decision about my major? |
What else do they do? |
Where can I find them? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAPE Coach |
They will guide you through the process of choosing a major by helping you develop a personalized, structured plan for major exploration. |
They will support you with your transition process by using knowledge in transfer process, university policy, and counseling. |
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Academic Advisor |
Academic advisors can answer questions about majors and minors (especially in your college) or changing your major (and college) and discuss your academic plan and progress. |
They are mostly the go-to person for any academic-related questions and concerns, and they will direct you to other resources if your problem is beyond their scope. |
Check MyU page for your assigned advisor |
| Departmental Advisor | They answer questions about major admission, requirements, and program-specific classes. You need to meet with them to declare a major or minor. | Some departments handle the permission number for all of their classes. Some courses require departmental consent for you to take them. In those cases, you need to talk with them. | Check the departmental website for advising information |
| ISSS Advisor | ISSS has a CAPE coach, Aya Maruyama, who tailors the one-on-one advising service for international students. |
ISSS advisors are mostly the go-to person for any questions and concerns related to your status as an international student, and they will direct you to other resources if your problem is beyond their scope. |
International Student and Scholar Services |
| Career Counselor | These counselors help you explore majors with an emphasis on career perspective. |
They help you search for internships and jobs or prepare for graduate school, and they provide career guidance and resume reviews. |
Career Services Offices |
| UMN alumni |
U of M graduates provide real-world perspectives on the fields of your interest. |
They can help you build a network in your field. | |
| Faculty | Faculty provide insights and perspectives on specific fields of study. | Professors can provide research opportunities, advice on graduate programs and careers in academia, and permission numbers in some departments. | Email or visit during the office hours |
| Peer | Peers can provide information on experiences and workload of a certain major(s). | Some students who already have internship or work experience can provide you with insights and contacts in the field. |