From Undecided to Marketing Enthusiast: McKinley’s Tips for Choosing an NAU Major
Try all the things and see what sticks!
Hi, my name is McKinley, and this May I will be graduating from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s in Business Marketing.
I didn’t always know that NAU would be my college of choice or that I would major in Marketing — but a few useful tips and trusting myself led me to a major that brings me immense joy.
How did I get here? Let me tell you a story.
I’ve always loved school. As a three-year-old, I begged to start preschool. In elementary school, I would go through and grade my old math books, pretending I was a teacher.
I never fell out of love with school, and the older I got, the more I knew I wanted a post-secondary education.
I grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska and I always knew I wanted to go out of state for college.
When I came across NAU, as cliché as it sounds, the school “just clicked.”
I applied and accepted admission before I had ever stepped foot in Arizona.
NAU has been the perfect fit for me and guided me to the perfect major — and it all started with the decision to move to Flagstaff.
First Semester, Freshman Year
In my first semester, I was undecided.
I had no idea what I wanted to do after college (I still don’t, lol).
I was taking basic prerequisites, and one of them was English. We had to write an I-Search paper answering any question we wanted.
I decided to focus on the question “What Should I Major In: Nutrition or Marketing?”
Based on income, job opportunities, required classes, and more — I stuck with my paper’s conclusion to declare Marketing as my major. This decision wasn’t just based on research, but also a long period of reflection about whether it would be a good fit.
By the second semester of my freshman year, I had started business classes.
Now, it’s Christmas break after my first semester.
I’m scrolling through Handshake (NAU’s job search platform) and see a posting for an NAU Social Media internship.
I look at the application — it’s a Google Form filled with creative questions about social media experience.
I’ve always been an avid user and loved creating my own content, so I decided to apply — having no idea what I was getting into!
I received an interview invitation and had my interview.
Then I got an email welcoming me to the internship. It said, “We’ll see you next week.”
I thought I had applied for something that started six months later, in the next school year 😅
I arrived at the internship the next week not knowing what to expect.
Three years later — I can confidently say that the NAU Social Internship changed my life.
Over the past three years, I’ve gained so much confidence and knowledge.
I’ve learned how to be a leader and put myself out there.
The internship also opened the door to other social media and marketing positions. I’ve worked with my local semi-pro baseball team in Alaska, the Alaska Goldpanners, helped with NAU Club Baseball, worked on marketing for Flagstaff Extreme, and more.
Through it all, the NAU Social Internship has been a constant. I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most incredible, creative, and hard-working individuals.
I’ve attended so many amazing events and connected deeply with the NAU and Flagstaff communities.
And I’ve been able to share my love for NAU.
How does all this tie into my major? Simple: because I love my job.
Even when I’m overwhelmed, tired, frustrated, or burned out, I love working in social media.
I tell everyone that I’d almost do any social media job for free (even though that’s not practical). Every single one has brought me amazing connections and experiences.
Back to the Marketing major
Currently, in my Marketing classes I find so much joy working on projects.
In Professor Len Hostetter’s class, we’re working with Mother Road Brewery, acting as a marketing firm and presenting ideas to the business. This project has been so fun for me — I enjoy it, I want to work on it, and ideas flow naturally.
That’s how I know I chose the right major: I’d do many forms of marketing for free (don’t tell my future employers that).
Maybe I got lucky and picked the perfect major on the first try. That’s probably true.
BUT don’t stress if you end up changing majors or paths; it’s okay!
The main reason I think it worked out for me the first time is because I was patient. I didn’t rush into a job or pathway — I let it come to me.
Everything will work out — sometimes you just have to be patient and trust the process. I‘ve always known I wanted to study abroad at some point during college. When I was deciding where to go, I waited, researched, and took my time until a town clicked: Stellenbosch, South Africa. It was the most amazing experience, and I knew I had chosen the right place.
Through patience, reflection, and trusting your gut — you’ll find what’s right for you. I’m not trying to sound all “ooooh, ahhhh,” but staying optimistic and acknowledging that everything happens for a reason — whether to teach or show you something — will really help you make the most of any situation, good or bad.
I wish all readers luck in finding their major, career path, or even life path.
It will all work out!
XOXO,
McKinley
