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Major Selection Program

The Major Selection Program (MSP) is coordinated through the Career Development Center. It offers a variety of services, many not offered by other colleges. Taken as a package, the MSP offers a systematic approach to help you find your way through the career decision process.

First-Year Major Exploration Experience

Through individual and small group sessions, hands-on activities, attendance at the Career and Major fairs and various other presentations, you will explore career options and majors available to you. At the conclusion of the seminar, you will complete an Individual Career Plan.

Majors Fair

You may participate in an on-campus fair, which showcases all majors available to you at WPI. Meet with department, faculty and upperclass students, as well as student organizations, to gather information about curriculum and its match to some career options you have identified.

Career Counseling

Frequently, students want to discuss in depth what they want their life's mission and work to be. Or, perhaps they no longer like their major or its associated career paths. CDC's professional staff members are here to assist you in putting a course of action together to address these concerns and needs.

Internships/Cooperative Education

Maybe you won't know if the decisions you made on a major or profession are right for you until you test them in the working world. By taking advantage of CDC's Summer Internship and Cooperative Education programs, you can spend three to six months working in your prospective profession or industry.

Professionals in Action

Seeing the actual workplace and interacting with professionals from various fields may be the best way to make your career choice. In addition to the popular Cooperative Education program, the MSP offers a number of such opportunities:

• The Workplace Tour Program provides regularly scheduled tours of many different types of workplaces. It may help you decide if you prefer shop or desk work, and what skills you'll need to polish if you are to be a contributor to any company.
• The Shadowing Program allows you to spend a day with a professional working in an area you are considering. One-to-one contact with a person doing the job you are considering is the best way to learn the advantages and disadvantages of that career. These shadowing opportunities are individually arranged upon student request.
• To take advantage of the success of our alumni, we've set up the Alumni Mentoring Program. Through regular contact with undergraduates, alumni keep individual students aware of career trends and opportunities, and arrange for meetings with professionals throughout their companies or organizations.

Flexibility

The options are almost endless at WPI. You can major, double major, major and minor, etc. See the Areas of Study section for a list of most of the areas of study we offer at WPI. Look at the list as a "menu" and create whatever combination of programs that looks right for you.

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: November 07, 2006 12:46:47