The average student at Iowa State changes his or her major three times before settling on a career path. But Career Exploration Services is working to change that by helping students look at their skills and interests to make that decision right the first time.

In a recent study, 94 percent of students that received help from Career Services never changed their major and graduated at a 16-percent higher rate.

“It’s a pretty big indication that our system works,” said Mark Becker, one of the career counselors.

Becker, along with other career counselors, meets with students to give them one-on-one advice.

“We look at your skills, your interests and your work values,” he said. “We do not tell you what you have to be.”

Along with career counseling, the new career center is a tool for students to utilize. There are about a dozen computers with top-of-the-line tests for student use.

“These are not tests that just pop up on Google,” Becker said.

The tests have a system that gives you a whole genre of jobs and majors that might suit you.

There are assistants in the room to help you ever step of the way. Called the Career Exploration Library, the center has more than a thousand books on shelves in the room that correspond with your result to give you all of your options.

LAS 104 gives students all of these resources in a class format.

“I think of it as career counseling in a group format,” Becker said.

It teaches students how to utilize all the resources in Career Exploration Services, but to do it more independently.

Career Exploration Services is not associated with any specific college at Iowa State. Because it is run by Student Affairs, there is no pressure to pick a certain major. All of these resources are offered to students with no fee involved.

Additionally, Career Exploration Services offers workshops and resources for career planning, including preparing for job interviews and first days on the job or applying to graduate or professional schools.

Career Exploration Services is hosting an ISU Major Fair on Oct. 26 in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. It’s a great way to check out all of the available majors at once.

Career Exploration Services is located at 3078 Student Services Building. Once you have selected a major, you may seek more help from the career center in your field, as each school offers counseling services.