Finding the Right Major: Advice from Marquette University Alumnus Mike Massimino
The search for the right college can be stressful, however, the destination is only the beginning of the choices that prospective students must make when filling out college applications. Many colleges will ask students to choose a major on their admissions application, a big decision for high school seniors. According to the U.S. Department of Education, “Within 3 years of initial enrollment, 30 percent of undergraduates in associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs who had declared a major had changed their major at least once”. Jeffery J. Selingo an expert in research for higher education writes for NYTimes, “Of students who said they felt committed to their major when they arrived on campus, 20 percent had selected a new major by the end of their first year”. The myth that it is important to choose a college major early has been around for a while now, however, we see that this is changing statistically. I myself, find that I am part of the 30 percent who changed their major at least once in the 3 initial years of enrollment. Enrolling as a Bioinformatics major in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, I wouldn’t have even imagined becoming a Corporate Communications major during the second semester of my sophomore year. Deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life is often a hard question to answer. With that in mind, I interviewed Mike Massimino, a Marquette Alumnus from the graduating class of 2014.
Mike Massimino graduated with a degree from the College of Communications as a Corporate Communications major with a minor in Marketing. Mike is currently employed at James Hardie Building Products as a Product Manager. The company produces fiber-cement building materials for the use of new home construction and remodeling applications. While at Marquette, Mike found an on-campus family as a member of Gold ‘n Blues a cappella group. Mike described, “I learned to grow with others, how to lead, and how to manage people. I was in it all 4 years and was able to be accountable to other people and myself while doing something I love”.
During the interview process, I asked Mike if he had ever second-guessed his major or career path while in college. The response was heartfelt and detailed. He responded, “Always! I thought about going more finance-driven and even was almost pre-dent. After school, I wanted to be in something more creative than analytical, but the product management roles were easier to come by for me”. I could tell that the answers Mike were giving were carefully thought out and carried a passion for the experiences he had as a Marquette student. Mike had great advice for a rising junior on how to finish strong. He explained how the importance of networking can be extremely beneficial and an efficient way of getting someone to take a chance on you after college.
I asked Mike, what are the best things you did to transition from school to the start of your career? His response was, “Don’t say no to things. It’s easy to want to go home on a Friday and relax but saying yes to plans or even grabbing a drink after work can help you keep up with your friends. Transitioning into the professional world is a weird experience for everyone, so making sure you can go through it with people is key”.
Mike Massimino embodies what it means to be Marquette alumni. Through his experiences in his Jesuit education, he seeks to always question and be open to new ideas. Through his responses, I myself gained insights on the strong bonds and connections that Marquette students create that last a lifetime. Mike described how on National Marquette Day, all his friends from around the country fly in for what he calls, “Our annual reunion”. The transition to college is hard, and so is declaring a college major. As Mike exhibits, it is okay to be uncertain and change your major. Change is a weird experience for everyone, but as Mike makes it clear, that change is made easier by surrounding yourself with others in the same situation.
