“choosing a major & career development” msa mentorship
TRANSCRIPT
“Choosing a Major & Career Development”
MSA Mentorship
It’s all a theme…
What are YOUR questions?
Tons of personalization in this process, so we have to treat them
individually
It’s all a theme…
What are YOUR questions?
Tons of personalization in this process, so we have to treat them
individually
You can STILL learn so much about how we deal
with the problem – break it down, what’s the issue,
what are systematic steps to take
EMULATE THE THINKING and apply to your own
situation
It’s all a theme…
So much of life, education, and religion is THEMATIC
Focus on the principles and the way of thinking and you will thrive
The Major & The Career
MAJOR = main focus (plus a nice paper degree)
Career = logical next step into working world
The two are often discussed interchangeably and you won’t have to concern yourself with the detailed differences… for your purposes the
college major should be the first focus built upon what you want to
LEARN for the next 4-12 years
The Major & The Career
MAJOR = main focus (plus a nice paper degree)
Career = logical next step into working world
The two are often discussed interchangeably and you won’t have to concern yourself with the detailed differences… for your purposes the
college major should be the first focus built upon what you want to
LEARN for the next 4-12 years
Look forward to the clean slate that freshmen year of college
gives you!
Person 1
“I know exactly what I want to do I’m only going to
focus on this”
Don’t Take the Extremist Mentalities…
Closes your mind / makes you static
Person 1
“I know exactly what I want to do I’m only going to
focus on this”
Person 2
“I don’t have any idea what I want to major in let alone
know what career to choose”
Don’t Take the Extremist Mentalities…
Closes your mind / makes you static
You don’t do anything awesome or even well
Person 1
“I know exactly what I want to do I’m only going to
focus on this”
Person 2
“I don’t have any idea what I want to major in let alone
know what career to choose”
Don’t Take the Extremist Mentalities…
Strive to achieve a balance and only take the good from both mentalities
Closes your mind / makes you static
You don’t do anything awesome or even well
Person 1
“I know exactly what I want to do I’m only going to
focus on this”
Person 2
“I don’t have any idea what I want to major in let alone
know what career to choose”
Don’t Take the Extremist Mentalities…
Strive to achieve a balance and only take the good from both mentalities
Closes your mind / makes you static
Depth vs. Breadth again!
You don’t do anything awesome or even well
It’s a clean slate and it’s a real slate (unlike high school which is so-so)
Don’t sweat it hard in high school justenjoy doing what you love and acquire skills
and research majors and careers FOR FUN, not out of anxiety
So for Your First Year…
It’s a clean slate and it’s a real slate (unlike high school which is so-so)
Don’t sweat it hard in high school justenjoy doing what you love and acquire skills
and research majors and careers FOR FUN, not out of anxiety
So for Your First Year…
The hard weed-out intro classes are good for you because they determine who has the passion
You want to have a niche, something that looks good that is your special talent. Try to be the best at THAT thing! At least
for the sake of having a focused application
So for High School…
You want to have a niche, something that looks good that is your special talent. Try to be the best at THAT thing! At least
for the sake of having a focused application
So for High School…
You have to tangibly show that you’ve looked into and be able to explain it which you won’t be able to do if
it’s not real!
What matters is your MAJOR… Period.don’t lose sight of this… ever.
Majors & Minors
What matters is your MAJOR… Period.don’t lose sight of this… ever.
Majors & Minors
Minors are not that important – don’t do it if it even remotely affects your performance in your major
What matters is your MAJOR… Period.don’t lose sight of this… ever.
Majors & Minors
Minors are not that important – don’t do it if it even remotely affects your performance in your major
For high school students, minors shouldn’t even come to mind
Big Picture
Big misconception: You will work in the exact role your
degree is designed for… guess again
Big Picture
Big misconception: You will work in the exact role your
degree is designed for… guess again
First determine: “Where is the passion!? Where might I
become #1?”
Big Picture
Big misconception: You will work in the exact role your
degree is designed for… guess again
First determine: “Where is the passion!? Where might I
become #1?”Early matters because time is
the most valuable commodity in life
Focus on thinking in this framework
Big Picture
Big misconception: You will work in the exact role your
degree is designed for… guess again
First determine: “Where is the passion!? Where might I
become #1?”Early matters because time is
the most valuable commodity in life
Focus on thinking in this framework
You will see that the skill sets
overlap and the learning process is what matters
Something I Want or My Parents Want…
Balancing the passion with practicality
Something I Want or My Parents Want…
Balancing the passion with practicalityNever force the people who can’t
engage with the “doctor/lawyer/engineer” into
them – you’re setting them up for failure.
If you do feel even partially excited by them, nurture that, and
find other ways to pursue your “less pragmatic interests” as
hobbies and side jobs
Something I Want or My Parents Want…
Balancing the passion with practicalityNever force the people who can’t
engage with the “doctor/lawyer/engineer” into
them – you’re setting them up for failure.
If you do feel even partially excited by them, nurture that, and
find other ways to pursue your “less pragmatic interests” as
hobbies and side jobs
Try to COMBINE and always happily
explore – DON’T be torn
Top 10 Universities… So What?
It all boils down to OPPORTUNITY
Top 10 Universities… So What?
It all boils down to OPPORTUNITY
Top 10 have great departments in EVERYTHING whereas the not Top 10 might only have a few or one exceptional department.
If you know that’s the department for you, more power to you. In the more likely case that you don’t, that’s a HUGE reason to crave Top 10
Top 10 Universities… So What?
It all boils down to OPPORTUNITY
Top 10 have great departments in EVERYTHING whereas the not Top 10 might only have a few or one exceptional department.
If you know that’s the department for you, more power to you. In the more likely case that you don’t, that’s a HUGE reason to crave Top 10
Don’t sweat what you
chose to tell people… be confident in
whatever you pick!
There’s Always a Way to Show…
Programs, internships, classes, online courses ALL
EXIST. There is NO EXCUSE for you to not
have something tangible to show for your passion. If
it’s not accessible, make it accessible – make it
yourself if you have to!
There’s Always a Way to Show…
Programs, internships, classes, online courses ALL
EXIST. There is NO EXCUSE for you to not
have something tangible to show for your passion. If
it’s not accessible, make it accessible – make it
yourself if you have to!
Learn how to explain how the
fundamental classes – your English, math, science, etc.
connect to your specific passion
The Rare Major Trick…
Smart tactic and can be very fruitful if you’re cautious on the
angle you take it…
The Rare Major Trick…
Smart tactic and can be very fruitful if you’re cautious on the
angle you take it…Specificity | Your Unique
Talent | Substance
The Rare Major Trick…
Smart tactic and can be very fruitful if you’re cautious on the
angle you take it…Specificity | Your Unique
Talent | Substance
Don’t try to trick Admissions… but use the idea to your advantage
The Rare Major Trick…
Smart tactic and can be very fruitful if you’re cautious on the
angle you take it…
You’re dealing with people!
Specificity | Your Unique Talent | Substance
Don’t try to trick Admissions… but use the idea to your advantage
The Rare Major Trick…
Smart tactic and can be very fruitful if you’re cautious on the
angle you take it…
Colleges want a variety of people but you MUST be able to SUPPORT
why you are unique!
You’re dealing with people!
Specificity | Your Unique Talent | Substance
Don’t try to trick Admissions… but use the idea to your advantage
Main Takeaways
Muslims, more than any community, just need CONFIDENCE.
Main Takeaways
Muslims, more than any community, just need CONFIDENCE.
Don’t EVER feel unconfident and don’t EVER feel overconfident
Main Takeaways
College is a clean slate bearing only big picture ideas/principles from high school
Muslims, more than any community, just need CONFIDENCE.
Don’t EVER feel unconfident and don’t EVER feel overconfident
Main Takeaways
College is a clean slate bearing only big picture ideas/principles from high school
Muslims, more than any community, just need CONFIDENCE.
Don’t EVER feel unconfident and don’t EVER feel overconfident
You MUST have the conversation and build communication with
your parents… you probably will have to start it