By: Bella Dalba
As
a child, the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was an
innocent inquiry. As a teenager, however, this prying inquisition induces
panic. The majority of high school students are under the impression that, upon
their graduation from high school, every aspect of their future must be
preemptively scheduled and thoroughly planned. This process begins with
selecting a college major, or the field of study on which the student places
emphasis. A popular misconception among high school seniors is that they must
enroll in college knowing exactly what they want to “major in,” and that they
will graduate with a career in the exact field of study they chose as an
incoming freshman. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Still, the pressure to decide is prevalent. Like many
students, you’re probably drawn to different fields—or to nothing in
particular. Whether you have a major picked out, you’re trying to decide
between a few, or you haven’t got a clue, there are plenty of ways to tackle
this decision. “Be forward-thinking,” says Seckman guidance counselor Keith
Mayer. “Rather than choosing a major and hope a career comes out of it, really
concentrate on the kind of job (or jobs) you want. Make a plan that will help
you reach an ideal career, where the last step is picking a major.”
With this in mind, it is important to know that when
picking a major, it is not the same as picking a profession. Even with the
exception of specialized fields like nursing, engineering, and accounting
(which can be changed at any time), majors are generally much more flexible
than they seem, particularly in the liberal arts. Fifty to seventy percent of
students change their majors at least once, and most will change majors at
least three times before they graduate. The major chosen as an undergrad will
not define the student’s life, if it even affects it at all. They could be a
lawyer with a bachelor’s degree in art history, or study pre-law and end up
running a bakery. “Take the pressure off of yourself,” says John Bader, an
Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Advising at Johns Hopkins University
in Baltimore, Maryland. “Don’t feel that it’s a contract. Your major should
give you a basic skill set that you can build upon as you gain work experience,
but your career is whatever you make it.” With this thought in mind, how does
one even begin to choose a major?
Craig Plummer, an independent college advisor based in
southern New Hampshire, suggests starting with some basic questions: “What are
you excited about? What makes you happy? Don’t just think about the classes and
activities you like; think about why you like them. Are you good at chemistry
because you’re really good at writing up the lab? Or does it make you want to
do independent research?”
Plummer breaks majors
down into two categories. The first are labor-intensive majors like nursing,
engineering, and business (specifically at a business school), where starting
off with a declared major is your best bet. If you don’t, it tends to snowball:
you miss lots of prerequisite courses, it becomes hard to catch up, and you end
up spending more time and money completing your degree. “If they’re even
thinking about doing engineering or nursing, start off in that degree,” Plummer
says. “If students don’t like it, they can switch to another program. At least
you’ve got the gen eds (general education requirements) under your belt, and
you haven’t lost any time.” The second group of majors – or those that require
much less forethought – is much bigger, and encompasses nearly all the other
areas of study. These are less specific, and allow the student to experiment in
different areas of study. But what if you’re completely undecided?
Until recently,
undecided/undeclared majors had a negative connotation: those students were
considered unfocused and unmotivated. Not anymore. “I love undecided students.
I think they are much more honest and much more open minded,” says Bader. “The
student who bravely answers, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing,’ shows integrity. It
really means you’re open.” However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have some
idea as to what you want to do. “I encourage students to approach deciding on a
major by being curious and open-minded,” says Ellen Crabtree, the Associate
Director of Academic Advising at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. “It’s
important for students to consider their own interests, hobbies, and values--to
know themselves--as they approach the ‘major’ decision. Starting with a general
field of study will help the student decide whether or not this particular
interest is worth pursuing. For example, say the student has an interest in
science. There are an abundance of foundational majors available that will
allow them to explore different scientific fields (chemistry, biology, etc.)
while also preparing them for a number of careers. As their college career
progresses, they can build on a simple science major with more specialized
classes, internships, student-faculty research projects, or perhaps pursue a
second major or a minor. It’s often these extracurricular activities that help
them explore your interests and discover what they really want to do in the
real world.”
Yet, as great as all
this freedom sounds, there is a “practical limit” to being undecided. Though
attitudes toward undeclared majors are changing, students don’t always have the
same scholarship consideration. If you wait too long to declare a major, it may
take longer than expected to finish your degree. That’s another summer session,
half year, year, or more in tuition, and not all scholarships and federal loans
extend beyond four years. “At some point, you do have to make some kind of
decision,” Bader says. “It’s certainly feasible to enter undeclared and still
finish in four years—but you need to be strategic. You can’t be purely
undecided. Narrow down your options to three or five majors, and choose your
courses carefully.”
If you really want to
open up your options, consider double majors and/or minors. You will have to
devise a specific course schedule to meet the requirements for both majors, but
pursuing your passions can only help you. “Find something you love learning
about. If you don’t, your college career will be painful,” says Katrina Wells,
a recent graduate of Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania. She
chose a double major in math and history, plus a minor in English
communications. “I have always been interested in mathematics throughout school
and have aspired to help others gain a respect and appreciation for the
discipline. I also found history--primarily social and political history--to be
of interest after taking geography and government courses in high school. I
decided to take these two things that I love learning about as my majors.”
If you have varied
interests like Wells, you might instead pursue an interdisciplinary major,
which allows you to combine subjects without going the heavy-duty double major
route. These self-designed majors hinge on a theme, such as international
relations, where students pick classes to support their topic. Many students
use this option to pursue a more conventional major that may not be offered at
their school, such as American Studies, which generally comprises courses in
sociology, history, literature, and art, while others create a course of study
entirely unique to them. Interdisciplinary studies require more work and
planning than a traditional major, and require administrative approval, but
they offer much more flexibility.
The process to
declaring a major can be a tumultuous route, but, equipped with the right
knowledge and purposeful planning, you will end up exactly where you’re meant
to be. “It’s important to consider your options, and not rush into a
preliminary decision,” says Lynn Price, an AP teacher at Seckman High School.
“The chance to change your major is always there, and almost every student
takes advantage of that opportunity.”
