Choosing a college major: How We Can Help

Sarah, a bright, ambitious high school senior who felt stuck when it came to choosing a college major. She excelled in many areas—her teachers praised her for her leadership skills, her friends admired her creativity, and her family noted her love for helping others. But when it came time to narrow her career options, Sarah was overwhelmed. Indeed, they noticed that Sarah was a great idea generator but did not always follow through. As she circled through possible majors, she would get excited and then the excitement would dissipate and she would pass.  Her parents both worked in corporate America but thoughts of heading into her parents office buildings in Stamford, CT made Sarah feel dismayed.

Sarah’s parents contacted Career Counseling Connecticut – the subsidiary of The Learning Consultants that I run – as college approached.  They were understandably worried about their daughter bouncing around through college and finishing in over 4 years.  One more year of over $50,000… no way.

As her parents told me about Sarah and after I spent time with Sarah, I suggested she take two tests: Myers Briggs and the Enneagram.  Having worked with young adults for 20 plus years and having used these tests for a similar amount of time, I was fairly sure she would type as an ENFP in Myers-Briggs and a Point 7 in the Enneagram. This proved true.

At first, Sarah was unsure how this information could help. But as she delved deeper into the description, she had an “aha!” moment. ENFPs often excel in careers involving creativity and human connection, such as marketing, counseling, event planning, or education. This insight resonated deeply—Sarah realized how much she loved brainstorming new ideas and connecting with people in meaningful ways.

Armed with this new understanding, Sarah began to explore potential majors like psychology, communications, and public relations. She spoke with professionals in these fields, shadowed a family friend who worked in marketing, and even started volunteering at a local nonprofit to test her skills in event coordination. Each experience reinforced what her results had suggested: Sarah needed a career that was dynamic, creative, and people-focused.

Fast forward to today: Sarah is thriving as a communications major with a focus on nonprofit work. She organizes events for her university’s student organizations and is already building a portfolio of experiences that align with her personality. Most importantly, she feels confident and excited about her future.  She has a job offer with a non-profit that designs gap-year travel experiences.

Related to the Enneagram, the Point 7 is nicknamed “The Adventurer”.  Suffice to say, Adventurers like to feel free and the thought of being trapped (this is mostly an internal feeling – like having to sit in an office cubicle)  causes psychological challenges.

Personality assessments do not  dictate your path—they reveal your strengths and preferences, empowering you to make choices that align with your authentic self. For Sarah, understanding her type gave her the clarity she needed to turn confusion into action and discover a career path that truly lights her up.