Whether you're starting out or already on a path toward a degree, our Exploring Plan will help you navigate the way to successful decision-making. Below are exploration activities you can try at different points in your journey. There's no one way to explore!
Self-Knowledge | Educational Knowledge | Career Knowledge
Developing Self-Knowledge
Self-Knowledge
This knowledge area involves understanding yourself, including your interests, skills, beliefs, values, personality traits, and goals.
Understanding Your Decision-Making Process
- How would you describe your decision-making process?
- What or who has helped you make decisions?
- What kind of information will help you make decisions?
Increasing Your Self-Knowledge
- Take an assessment to learn about your interests
- Take an assessment to learn about your aptitudes & abilities
- O*Net - Abilities
- YouScience aptitude assessment (fee required for use)
- Skills Matcher
- Take an assessment to learn about your values
- Take an assessment to learn about your personality type
- Take an assessment to learn about your career interests
Understanding Your Self-Development Goals
- What skills do you hope to develop in college?
- What activities outside of class make you feel motivated and engaged?
- What contributions do you hope to make to your community?
Developing Educational and Institutional Knowledge
Educational and Institutional Knowledge
This knowledge area consists of understanding academic majors/minors, core education requirements, and your academic ability.
Exploration Activities
- Review the majors and minors at the University of Oregon
- Explore specifically
- Explore by School or College
- Explore by interest
- Attend the College Block event
- Take an Exploring course in an area of interest (i.e. BA 101, JCOM 101)
- Create “What-if” Scenarios in DOT
- Sort the majors/minors at UO into categories of “No Interest, Possible Interest, and Very Interested”
- Meet with a professor in an area of interest to learn more about the major
- Meet with an academic or career advisor for a specific major/minor
- Attend an informational session offered about a specific major or college
- Research the admission and pre-req requirements for a specific major
- Talk with peers who are currently taking classes or completing your major of interest
- Visit a club connected to an area of interest
- Learn about experiential learning opportunities in your major of interest: research, internships, study abroad, volunteering, campus jobs
Developing Career and Occupational Knowledge
Career and Occupational Knowledge
This knowledge area consists of understanding career/occupational opportunities and the necessary skills and steps needed for a field or role
Exploration Activities
- Learn common career paths for majors by using “What Can I Do With This Major”
- Use the tool My Next Move to help you understand options
- Seek input from peers or family members who work in a field of interest
- Meet with a Career Coach at the University Career Center
- Activate Handshake to find jobs, internships, and career events related to your goals
- Meet with a professor to learn about their career path in your field of interest
- Attend a Career Center Event to meet alumni, network, or learn about a field
- Learn about jobs and internships offered in your area of interest
- Complete an informational interview with an individual in your field of interest
- Job shadow in your field of interest
- Join a student organization in your field of interest
- Attend a networking event with the Student Alumni Association
- Learn more about paths for graduate school
How Your Exploring Advisor Can Help
Milestones
- Meet with an Exploring Advisor regularly to learn about opportunities within your department and to make sure you’re on track with degree requirements.