Whether you're starting out or already on a path toward a degree, out Exploring Plan will help you navigate along the way to success. 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
- 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.