Ball State students wondering what their futures hold may turn to a new online program that matches interests and personality to academic majors and careers.

Quest, a Web-based service offered through the Career Center, assists students with identifying Ball State majors and careers that relate to their interests. The program then provides information on what types of careers are available after graduating with a particular major or minor.

The site will be unveiled to the campus community Dec. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Atrium of the Art and Journalism Building. The event, co-sponsored by Ball State's Residence Halls Dining Service, will feature Career Center representatives using wireless laptop computers to allow students to examine the site.

Quest is designed to reduce uncertainty about career exploration, said Joseph P. Goodwin, assistant director of the Career Center.

"Some students come to college knowing what they want to do when they graduate, but are unsure about what classes to take or which majors will provide the best educational experience," Goodwin said.  "Other students know they need to go to college, but have no idea what they want to do with their lives after finishing school.

"Using Quest, a student interested in a career in history, for example, can find out what classes to take and then look at various career options," he said.

The project, funded by the Lilly II student retention grant, was developed over the last 12 months in-house by the Career Center with assistance from University Communications and University Computing Services. Since the start of the school year, 4,600 people have completed the Quest survey, the first step in the program.

"There are various Web sites that one can visit to complete personality assessments or interest inventories and learn the names of related careers," Goodwin said. "Other sites have information about careers related to college majors. There are also sources where one can learn more about specific careers. But to the best of our knowledge, Quest is unique in that it combines all of these elements along with offering information about how to develop job-search skills. It will soon include online tutorials as well."

Quest also is being used by members of Ball State's Office of Admissions during meetings with high school guidance counselors and at college fairs around the state. The computer program was popular with counselors, parents and future college students.

"Each of the counselors I have spoken with about Quest was very interested in its features," said Brandon Lagana, senior assistant director of admissions and enrollment services. "Students and families have found it appealing when I told them about Quest during college fairs. As I was talking with one family, I learned that the entire family had used it — even the parents."