Parallel Planning

A parallel plan is an additional academic and career development plan to follow in your first year of college. Parallel planning helps you graduate on time even if you decide to change your major partway through your college career. You may be surprised to learn that many majors have similar prerequisite coursework. Because of this overlap, thinking through all your major and career options in your first year will allow you to pivot later should you want or need to.

• You want to apply for an application-based degree program. You will need an additional plan (preferably non-application-based) to pursue if you are not admitted into your original program of choice.
• You decide to change your major because you discover a path that is more in line with your values, interests, personality, and skills.
• You discover a career path that you never knew existed and decide to change course.
• You want to save time and money should you decide to change your major later. You can do so by planning coursework for both your major and parallel plan together.

• Use our parallel planning worksheet to guide you through the process.
• Explore majors and careers that have some overlap in coursework.
• Check out ways to connect majors and careers with your values, interests, and goals.
• Set up a job shadowing opportunity through your school’s career office to discern whether you’ll like a particular job.
• Use O*NET OnLine to research different occupations.
• Visit “What Can I Do With This Major?” to see what career opportunities are available for your field of study.
• Meet with an advisor or career consultant to discuss options if you don’t know where to start.