Decisions, decisions, decisions! This is what’s going through the minds of many high school seniors and some college students. Choosing a major can be a life-changing decision that’s difficult and stressful.

Choosing a major doesn’t need to be difficult and stressful. At Palo Alto, counselors and career representatives are available to give you the right tools to help you make the right decision. Students at Palo Alto with undecided majors are taking core courses that all students must take and hope to reach a decision soon.

“I need to choose a major and work toward that goal,” said April Silva, a second-semester freshman. She met with a counselor and took the core classes she recommended. “Take time to think about what you like doing and choose a career that you will like for a lifetime, because money is not everything,” said Silva. “The counselors have been very helpful and are always available.”

Changing your major is common, but it can set you behind in obtaining your career and it can become costly, both financially and emotionally.

“Try not to slack off in classes so you can stay focused,” said Jay Verdin, a sophomore at Palo Alto who’s majoring in Pre-Law. “I’ve changed my major twice and now it’s set me behind and taking me longer to transfer to the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA),” said Verdin.

For some high school seniors, choosing a major is not very difficult. “I’ve known since my junior year in high school that I wanted to be an architect,” said Roberto Salinas, a senior at South San West Campus High School. “Money is not a big factor as long as you enjoy what you’re doing and don’t look at it as a job.”

Students attending classes who have not declared a major should visit Counseling and Support Services. The counselor will give you a self-evaluation sheet to determine the type of career that fits your personality. An Interest Inventory test is also administered to find out your strengths and weaknesses. After the evaluations and testing are reviewed, the counselor will help you decide your major and career goals.

“Students today expect to have multiple careers in their lifetime,” said Yolanda Reyna, a licensed professional counselor and professor of Student Development. “This new generation of students born after 1982, known as ‘millennials,’ will seek work/life balance and will need to engage in long-term career planning,” said Reyna.

Some tools available to students are found on Palo Alto’s very own website: Career Exploration and Choosing Your Major and answer the questions about choosing a major. On the same website, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook, a good source for different types of job information on training, education requirements, job earnings, job prospects, job descriptions and working conditions.

Every semester, classes on Strategies for Succeeding in College and Career and Life Planning are taught by counselors to explore what types of jobs are out there for students to broaden their outlook. During Maymester, the class on Strategies for Succeeding in College will be offered on Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The Career and Life Planning class is offered during the Summer I Session on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and Thursday, noon to 12:50 p.m.

Support Services at Palo Alto is another resource for students, and the advisors work hand in hand with the counselors.

“Money is not everything. You have to like the job,” said Nora Esparza, Education Support Specialist and Advisor. She gives advice to many students who are undecided and think they must make a fast decision. Her office also provides other services, such as career planning assistance, job search assistance, career interest testing, resume writing consultation, career resource library, on-campus job recruitment, mock interviews, job internship information, career and job fairs. They also give students a handout titled “Nine Steps to Help You Decide on a Major.”

Counseling and Support Services at Palo Alto are located in Building D next to the Palomino Center. Their hours of operation for Fall and Spring semesters are Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Summer hours beginning May 30, 2006, are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You may also contact them at (210) 921-5280.