The Case of E
Here are the background data for this case.
Background Data
E is a twenty-year-old sophomore at a large state-supported univer-
sity, where she is pursuing a double major in history and religion. Her
goal in career counseling is to narrow her choices to a few viable
occupational alternatives so that she can feel more comfortable about
her educational plans. She feels that the information she has gained
thus far from a career exploration class is too general and suggests too
many options; the result is that she feels confused. At this time, she
has “pretty much ruled out scientific and math paths to careers,” par-
tially because these are more difficult for her. However, E is bright and
can pursue any career she chooses. Her SAT score was 1350 at the
time she graduated from high school, and she has a GPA of 3.8. E has
no physical limitations that would limit her career choices.
E has held a number of part-time jobs, including working at Sea
World when she was sixteen, serving as an assistant to the VP of a
regional grocery store—a job she describes as being a “go-fer”—and as
an exercise physiologist at a corporate fitness center. In the latter job,
she taught strength training, took blood pressure, assisted in fitness
testing, including EKGs, and developed fitness programs for members.
Both of E’s parents were trained as attorneys. Her mother stayed
at home with the children, although she has done some legal work
on an individual basis. Her father is a practicing attorney. They
have expressed an interest in her completing a bachelor’s degree,
but they have not expressed opinions about expected career paths.
E has a fifteen-year-old brother and a seventeen-year-old sister.
Assessment Data
E was asked to rate her confidence in her ability to do well in each
of the following subjects, using a 1 to 10 scale, with 1 indicating
that she has little confidence in her ability to do well in the subject
30 CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT