The What: Potential Careers & Major

• Life Design Reqs→ 3 potential futures → Careers
• Major decision rubric
• Picking a major: 3 options + criteria worksheet

Goal of this step is to list potential career paths based on our enumerated values and interests from Life Design; equivalent of

1. (6fig+ salary target) + (STEM & Linguistic Abilities [Affinities/Skills]) —> Lawyer, Doctor, Engineer

2. However, since

   1. I need that $ kinda fast/I don’t really like academia,
   2. I want freedom and versatility in my work, and
   3. I like physics > bio

   Field = engineering

3. Category —> Major

   1. Research (w chatGPT, YT, interview professionals) to get clearer ideas of what day-to-day looks like

Goal: Reframe major selection as hypothesis testing, not permanent commitment

<aside> 💡

"73% of graduates don't work in their major field. Your major teaches you how to think, not just what to know. Focus on building transferable skills and testing assumptions."

</aside>

Two Simple Tools:

A) The 3 Plans Framework (from Designing Your Life's Odyssey Planning, simplified)

For each: What would Year 1-2 of college look like? What skills would you build? What questions need answering?

• Plan A: The path you're considering (be specific: major, career direction, why it appeals)
• Plan B: Alternative if Plan A disappeared tomorrow
• Plan C: Wild card (what would you do if money/judgment didn't matter?)

B) Low-Stakes Testing Checklist

Before committing to a major, try to:

• [ ] Talk to 1-2 people working in fields that interest you
• [ ] Take a free online course or watch lectures in the subject
• [ ] Read/follow content creators in that space
• [ ] Shadow or volunteer in a related role (if possible)