Worrying about choosing a major can be stressful for freshmen entering Ohio University, but with help from OU, students receive guidance and advice.

Freshman Jenny Brately, who went to Career Services for a class, said she is considering returning because she said she thinks the counselors can help her choose a major. Brately said she is worried she will not graduate on time because she is not sure what she wants to do.

"I just don't know what direction I'm going," she said.

Delayed graduation can cost students both time and money. Freshman Deanna Huebner said although she soon will choose a major, she is concerned that because she waited, she will have to pay to stay in school longer.

"Money is something everybody worries about," she said.

Brately and Huebner are not the only students uncertain about choosing majors. Twenty-five percent of freshmen come to OU undecided and two out of three students change their majors before they graduate, said Ted Bernard, assistant dean of University College.

Students who are having trouble choosing majors or career paths have several counseling options through Career Services, University College and Counseling and Psychological Services.

Lisa Wiseman, assistant director of Career Services, said Career Services counselors had 1,800 appointments and helped 569 students with computerized career tests last year.

Students with career interests can talk to counselors about career aspects and look up specific jobs in the resource library, which has both book and computer career guides.

Counselors help students by providing tests to determine skills, values and interests that might lead them to particular majors.

"We can get those areas and take a look at majors offered in areas they have an interest in," she said.

Wiseman said the counselors do not push students toward majors but provide the resources for students to choose for themselves.

"It's never our decision," she said. "We just give them the means to make an informed decision."

University College counselors also help undecided students find their place at OU.

Bernard said undecided incoming freshmen are assigned faculty and secondary advisors to go over their schedules and help choose them majors.

Because more than 25 percent of appointments are with students changing their majors, Bernard said University College provides upperclassmen with counseling and tests to find areas of strength.

"We then help match them with majors offered in the university," he said.

Paul Gleason, director of Counseling and Psychological Services, said his office also offers career counseling. Students can take vocational interests tests and talk about problems and options with counselors.