2 answers
Kelsey
Student
Powell, Tennessee
1
Question
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When do I need to have decided on a major?
#majors #major #college-major
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2 answers
Lori Catan
Correlations Specialist
15
Answers
Winter Springs, Florida
Updated
Lori’s Answer
Hi Kelsey!
I am not certain if you are in high school or a college student. I will address both circumstances.
It is worth the time and effort to explore and discover "the color of your parachute" (to rephrase a self-help book title designed just for this purpose) before you choose a college or university. (However, it is never too late!). Not all institutions of higher learning offer every potential major. If you decide to attend a school that does NOT have the major you eventually decide upon, you could waste previous time and money. This happened to me. I won a Presidential Scholarship to attend a very expensive private college. Then I decided my sophomore year that I wanted to be a teacher, but this college did not have a teacher prep program. I ended up going from paying $400 per semester for a 12K a semester college, to taking out student loans to attend a university (without a scholarship). I was glad I chose this major, but it was an expensive choice.
SAVE yourself grief and potential dollars by first understanding *YOU* as best you can. Even an idea of what you DON'T like is helpful! This will enable you to be mindful of what to look for when selecting colleges or a major. For example, if you know you have zero interest in a particular area, avoid those colleges/universities that may specialize in them. (It is also worth pivoting and taking an extra semester if you determine a major "late").
If you are already in college and find that you are still undecided, remember that you can always minor in one or even two! I agree that you should check the programs carefully on the registrar site. I also recommend Peterson's Guide to Colleges. It rates programs and indicates which programs are competitive or lacking. Look for quality programs for the best value. And don't ignore the high cost of private colleges---many have endowments (a fund of free money for students who apply) to help with those costs. Other valuable resources include: a research librarian, a professional in a field you aren't certain about yet, your teachers or college professors.
Resources for you to discover your interests include: "What Color is Your Parachute?" by Carol Christen; "The Art of Work" by Jeff Goins; "Now What?" by Nicholas Lore; "Careers: The Graphic Guide to Finding the Perfect Job for You" by DK. A fantastic reference guide to jobs is: "Occupational Outlook Handbook" available online at: bls.gov
I am not certain if you are in high school or a college student. I will address both circumstances.
It is worth the time and effort to explore and discover "the color of your parachute" (to rephrase a self-help book title designed just for this purpose) before you choose a college or university. (However, it is never too late!). Not all institutions of higher learning offer every potential major. If you decide to attend a school that does NOT have the major you eventually decide upon, you could waste previous time and money. This happened to me. I won a Presidential Scholarship to attend a very expensive private college. Then I decided my sophomore year that I wanted to be a teacher, but this college did not have a teacher prep program. I ended up going from paying $400 per semester for a 12K a semester college, to taking out student loans to attend a university (without a scholarship). I was glad I chose this major, but it was an expensive choice.
SAVE yourself grief and potential dollars by first understanding *YOU* as best you can. Even an idea of what you DON'T like is helpful! This will enable you to be mindful of what to look for when selecting colleges or a major. For example, if you know you have zero interest in a particular area, avoid those colleges/universities that may specialize in them. (It is also worth pivoting and taking an extra semester if you determine a major "late").
If you are already in college and find that you are still undecided, remember that you can always minor in one or even two! I agree that you should check the programs carefully on the registrar site. I also recommend Peterson's Guide to Colleges. It rates programs and indicates which programs are competitive or lacking. Look for quality programs for the best value. And don't ignore the high cost of private colleges---many have endowments (a fund of free money for students who apply) to help with those costs. Other valuable resources include: a research librarian, a professional in a field you aren't certain about yet, your teachers or college professors.
Lori recommends the following next steps:
Ria Jagasia
Academic Consultant at AIC Education
40
Answers
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Updated
Ria’s Answer
Hey Kelsey! Typically universities and colleges do not require that you declare before the second semester of your sophomore year. You should check your school's registrar page to confirm their specific deadline. Many schools will also have students that declare when they enter (for example, at my school many engineering students did that), but it is typically easy to transfer schools and majors so you don't have to worry about that holding you back.
Ria recommends the following next steps: