This past Tuesday evening, alumni and departmental representatives hosted Career and Majors Night, sponsored by Career Services and Student Advising Services. The event provided assistance to students on each end of the collegiate spectrum: choosing a major and searching for career opportunities.
Tables representing many different majors and fields, from broadcasting to nuclear medicine technology, were set up in the Student Union Lobby and Social Hall. Each table offered pamphlets and information sheets, and students were able to speak to department representatives and ask questions.
According to Lisa Tuyn, senior academic advisor for Student Advising Services, the event is held each year in the fall around the time of spring course registration to help students plan for the upcoming semester.
"A lot of students are undecided or change their major at least once," she said.
She explained that the event is an opportunity to bring many majors together in one place to help students make more informed decisions.
"Students don't realize we have over 100 majors available," she said.
At their booth, Student Advising Services provided guidance to students unsure of the major they would like to pursue. This included students who had already chosen a major based on the career field they wanted to go into but weren't sure that the major was for them. To assist these students, information about alternative ways to achieve their career goals was distributed.
"We provide help for students who want to do something similar but not the actual field, or other majors with similar prerequisites," said Jillian Reading, a graduate assistant for Student Advising Services.
One pamphlet, entitled "Alternatives to Management," illustrated the fact that individual degrees can lead to a surprising variety of career opportunities. For example, majoring in communication, economics or geography could lead to attaining jobs in the business world.
Jasmine Sharpe, a junior psychology major, learned that her major could help her pursue a career in nursing and that many of the prerequisites are the same for the two programs.
"I went to tables I normally wouldn't go to," she said.
Several UB alumni were present to answer questions about their careers and the paths they took to achieve their goal.
"It was exciting meeting people who have gone here before and seeing how they got where they are," said Zita Minta, a sophomore management major.
Rafael Payano, a junior finance major, agreed and thought that inviting alumni made attending the event a worthwhile experience for students.
"It's good to see students taking the opportunity to stop in and interact with alumni," Payano said.
Chris Twarozek, a freshman undecided major, thought the event presented a variety of opportunities available at UB and found the fair useful in his search for a major.
"It was really helpful. I'm undecided so I'm just looking at everything," Twarozek said. "It helps me to know what professions there are."
Payano also said he was able to find plenty of information about potential careers within the finance field, such as company and private banking.
"There are a lot of ways you can go," Payano said.
April Santos, a junior nursing major, thought the event would have been more effective if more tables were set up in the lobby rather than splitting the event in two venues on different floors of the Union.
"More people pass through downstairs than they do (upstairs)," she said.
A raffle encouraged students to talk to the different departments since they could only receive a ticket if they asked a representative a question. Winning tickets were drawn every half hour. Prizes ranged from gift certificates for restaurants and movie rentals to a UB bookstore gift card and a free Kaplan course.
Caitlin Haskell, a peer assistant intern at Student Advising Services, explained that a lot of patience and planning goes into organizing the event so that as many departments as possible, as well as local alumni, can attend.
"It takes a lot of coordinating, but most students find it really useful," she said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
