Students often have questions about how their concentration relates to their career pathways and decision making. MCS has compiled some advice as you think about relating your concentration to a potential career:
1. Your concentration does not determine your career. In fact, there are multiple studies that state that anywhere from 54% to 73% of college graduates in the US don’t work in a career related to their majors. As such, what do you want to know more about and what skills do you want to develop?
2. What excites you academically? Focus on subjects you’re eager to dive into. Don’t limit yourself to just one concentration. You can always explore secondaries, joints or doubles to have your interests intersect with one another. Consider concentrations that are of interest to you in relation to subject matter.
- Explore the MCS Career Pathways page to learn more about a wide variety of career paths as you think about which programs you want to attend. These pages help you learn more about making career decisions, access career resources including a self-assessment tool, and explore job and internship opportunities across 20 industry clusters.
3. What experiences and skills could your concentration lead to? Consider what opportunities may come to fruition for research, internships, study abroad, and extracurriculars based on concentrations.
- Check out the Top 10 Skills that employers are looking for on a resume from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025.
4. What’s a passion vs. a profession? Some interests may become careers, while others become hobbies. Both matter but distinguishing between the two can help with what you decide to study.
- Also consider activities outside of the classroom which may support your concentration choice: Research, Volunteering, Internships, Study Abroad, Extracurriculars.
5. Ask questions using the resources around you! Connect with faculty, MCS advisors, peers, tutors and proctors, TFs, alumni and anyone who may be of great insight. These conversations are your chance to see practical and real-world implications of what someone in that concentration may pursue both during and after Harvard.
