Jaguar Family

Family support for student success

Welcome to IU Indianapolis! If you made it to this webpage, you probably have a student who is preparing to embark on their college journey through University College. We have a wealth of resources, opportunities, and a dedicated team of professionals who are here to support your student’s academic and career success. 

As your student makes their transition into college courses, they’ll need your support, too. Learn what to expect as your student explores their academic and career interests, adjusts to college-level academic expectations, and pursues various career pathways. With you cheering them on and supporting them from home, your Jaguar is sure to succeed.

Top tips for family to support academic and career success

1. Ask

Ask your student about their values, interests, personality, and skills and how they align with their major and career choices. Share your own career journey with your student and how you learned more about yourself in the workplace.

2. Encourage

Encourage your student to thoroughly explore their declared major and to research all their major options. IU Indianapolis has over 200 undergraduate programs! Keep an open mind if they choose an area  you don’t know much about or that differs from their peers; do the research alongside them.

3. Introduce

Introduce your student to friends and family in their desired field—networking and informational interviewing are powerful ways to expose your student to career information.

4. Expose

Expose your student to careers through encouraging job shadowing, taking a career class, and attending career-related events like Field Trip Fridays, Fall Career Week, Major and Career Information Day, and career fairs.

5. Inspire

Inspire your student to investigate extracurricular opportunities at IU Indianapolis that align with their interests, like getting involved in a student organization, volunteering, doing research, taking advantage of student employment, or studying abroad.

6. Listen

Most importantly, listen to your student because their journey is unique. If they change their mind about a major or career path, be willing to listen and help them work through their reasons for the change. Give them time and space to learn from their choices!

Myths and facts about major and career exploration

Many students feel that they have to have everything together when they go to college, especially their major and career path. That’s simply not true. Learn some of the common misconceptions and the facts behind them to help your student feel more confident during their college experience. 

Myths 

Facts 

1. Most incoming students already know what they will major in. 

1. Most students will change their major. In fact, 50–80% of all students nationwide change their major during college. 

2. There is only one perfect career for your student. 

2. There are a multitude of careers out there that your student hasn’t explored yet. In fact, those in Generation Z are predicted to have 12–15 different jobs in 3–4 different fields. 

3. Your student’s major determines their career path. 

3. Experience and networking are more important than major, according to 90% of employers (stat from a National Association of Colleges and Employers survey). 

4. Your student should choose careers based off what is hot and trending in the market right now. 

4. The job market is constantly changing and evolving. Many jobs of the future don’t even exist yet! 

5. Your student needs to know what they’re “passionate” about before choosing a major. 

5. Interests grow and develop over time. Your student should pay attention to these patterns to get a better sense of what might excite them for work. 

6. Your student will take longer to graduate if they don't know their major.

6. Considering options and making an informed decision early ensures that your student won’t waste valuable time and money with a late major or career change. Our support teams are committed to helping your student narrow their options, declare a major, and move toward degree completion. 

Engage with campuswide opportunities

The Division of Student Affairs coordinates engagement and communication opportunities for family members and supporters of current IU Indianapolis students. Join the family council, attend Family Weekend, and sign up to receive communications about IU Indy happenings.

Join the Jaguar Family

A group of students walking during Orientation.

IU Indianapolis

University College

Taylor Hall, Suite 3099
815 W Michigan St
Indianapolis, IN 46202

+1-317-278-3485

uc@iu.edu