Sophomore Parents

Generally, during this year, students begin to explore majors and career options more seriously.
How you can help:

  • Don't insist on a decision about a major or possible career choice immediately. If you sense that your student's indecision is a barrier to positive progress, urge them to go to the CDC. Sometimes students have difficulty deciding because they fear they may close off options or make a wrong choice.
  • Alumni Career Paths is a resource to show what other Bucknellians have done with their majors.  The Making Career Decisions is another resource to educate students about the world & diversity of employment opportunities for each major.
  • Suggest that your student talk with faculty and career advisers about potential choices.
  • Don't assume majors in Philosophy, English, or History means your student will not get a job.  Liberal Arts courses sharpen skills which are critical to the "package" employers are seeking:  strong written and oral communication skills, problem-solving skills, the ability to synthesize information, and excellent research skills.
  • Direct your child to family, friends, and colleagues in fields in which your student has an interest.  'Informational interviewing' with people is extremely useful at this stage.
  • Encourage your child to participate in an externship.  An externship is a two-day job shadowing experience that is only available to sophomores and allows opportunities to reality-test a possible career choice and to form valuable relationships with alumni, parents and employers of Bucknellians.
  • Sophomore year can be a time to explore the graduate or professional school options and possibly participate in research or internships that are related.  They should be talking with the appropriate advisor - either a faculty member assigned as the discipline advisor or the professional school advisors.  The pre-health advisor and pre-law advisor both work in the Career Development Center.  The MBA Advisor works in the department of Management.

For more information about workshops and events being offered by the CDC click here.

For more information on how to support your son/daughter click here.

For more information about the career development process and how you can play a role click here.

Contact Us with any questions.