#engagementstory

Northwestern Sophomore Explores Career Options

Alumni Mentorship

By MAX LEISTEN

Going through the vast landscape of career possibilities can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially for sophomores eager to chart their professional paths. For a sophomore at Northwestern majoring in math and psychology, this journey is particularly diverse and intriguing. With a budding interest in actuarial science, despite lacking an economics background, and a passion for education, counseling, and ministry, the quest to find the right career path is both an adventure and a challenge.

In today’s world, tools like Protopia have become invaluable resources for students to connect with industry experts, alumni, and mentors who can provide personalized guidance and insights.

Keep it simple!

Max

The "ask"

I am a sophomore at Northwestern majoring in math and psychology. I want to start exploring career options, and am interested in virtually anything. I have a slight interest in actuarial science, but don’t have any economics background. I am also interested in education, counseling, and entering ministry. Thank you for your guidance!

The "give" (1 of 4)

Hi! Here is what I would recommend: if you haven’t already finished your distribution requirements, use those to take a few classes you might not choose on your own. This will give you a sense of what you like and don’t like. If you find something that interests you, take a second class in that area to confirm.

Since you’re interested in education, counseling, and the ministry, see if there are courses you can take in those subjects.

Even if the courses are not exactly what you had in mind, trying them out can allow you to dabble in your areas of interest and confirm or reject your suspicions about your interests. You can also look into volunteering in those areas.

When I was interested in education, I volunteered at a nearby elementary school, which was extremely rewarding and confirmed my thoughts. You can also inquire about career counseling. I took an interest inventory of some sort when I was a senior, and it confirmed that I was pursuing the correct field for me.

Hopefully this helps. Let me know if you have questions.

Protopia’s artificial intelligence technology makes it truly simple for everyone in your community to connect for advice and support. Without another app to sign up for or learn.

Delivering Alumni As A Service across the entire learner’s journey.

Welcome to the Future.

What’s Protopia?

How Can Protopia Help?

More Resources