Career Exploration

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Parents and other adults often urge students toward their potential careers by asking young children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

There may be a perception that students should have a clear answer to that question by the time they graduate from high school. College students often continue to explore the academic and career pathways that they encounter in and out of the academic setting. The more that students are able to explore possible career pathways, the more opportunity they have to find the right fit. That fit hopefully encompasses a students’ interests, their personality and their skills and abilities. 

Explore Your Future

My Future Arizona is a website and resource often used in Arizona middle and high schools. The website connects a student with their counselor as they work to create an ECAP, an Education and Career Action Plan. Parents are also able to be looped into the conversation.

Get Involved

Extracurricular activities can be a way for students to explore a variety of career options. Join a club at your school to explore medicine, marketing, or engineering.

Volunteer or seek to shadow someone that is working in the field you are interested in. Love animals, consider volunteering at a veterinary clinic or the local zoo. Sometimes a volunteer opportunity can lead to a job and further experiences.

Degree Search

As students get closer to high school graduation, they may be curious as to how their academic interests may connect to specific degrees at a university. The University of Arizona has a Degree Search. Students can select from 21 different academic interests and then explore a variety of majors tied to those interests.

What Problem Do You Want to Solve?

Even while students are at the University, there are a variety of resources to continue to help students with finding their way. The A Center engages students in self-reflection and finding academic and career pathways that align with the individual.