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What exactly does "undeclared" mean when you apply to colleges?
Senior in high school, currently applying to colleges. #college-applications
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Doc’s Answer
Alondra while there's a lot of pressure on freshmen to pick a college major, undeclared students are the majority. Most students enter college undeclared or will change their major a couple of time by their sophomore year. Most colleges require that all students take the same basic courses, whether they're majoring in English or chemistry. As almost every college requires core classes such as math, composition and speech, start by taking those courses during your freshman year. However, keep in mind that you'll probably want to explore some different classes to learn about the various majors. Many times, those classes will fit into your schedule, as colleges usually require students to complete a certain number of elective courses. Talk to your academic adviser to find out how your classes of interest can fit into your academic plan. Some colleges also allow students to audit or sit in on classes without being officially enrolled. This can be an effective way to learn more about a subject without having to commit money or credits to taking a class. Another way to learn more about a subject for free is to join a college club or pursue an activity that focuses on a topic of your interest, one where students can tell you more about the major and what it would be like.
CONSIDER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
If you can't decide on a major or type of college, consider enrolling in community college for two years and then transferring to a four-year college. Classes at community colleges are less expensive, so taking a class that won't count toward your degree will be less of a concern. Due to these huge price differences, many students choose to complete a two-year degree program at their local community college and then transfer to a university to complete their studies and earn a higher degree. Community colleges typically have much less strict admission requirements than universities. In fact, many have open admission policies, meaning any person who graduates high school and applies gets accepted. However, certain community college programs may have stricter admission requirements, such as those in nursing, law enforcement, allied health and engineering technology.
Class size is also something to consider when deciding on a community college or a university. Universities tend to have much larger class sizes due to the amount of students that attend the school, and this can mean less one-on-one attention from teachers for you. Since community colleges usually have a much lower overall student population, class sizes are also much smaller. In fact, the average class size at community colleges ranges from 25-35, while classes at universities can have 100-150 students! If you enjoy one-on-one teacher attention, this can have a huge impact on your college decision.
Alondra you're thinking of community college first, always check to make sure your credits and AA degree will transfer when the time comes to transfer to a 4-year university.
Hope this helps Alondra
CONSIDER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
If you can't decide on a major or type of college, consider enrolling in community college for two years and then transferring to a four-year college. Classes at community colleges are less expensive, so taking a class that won't count toward your degree will be less of a concern. Due to these huge price differences, many students choose to complete a two-year degree program at their local community college and then transfer to a university to complete their studies and earn a higher degree. Community colleges typically have much less strict admission requirements than universities. In fact, many have open admission policies, meaning any person who graduates high school and applies gets accepted. However, certain community college programs may have stricter admission requirements, such as those in nursing, law enforcement, allied health and engineering technology.
Class size is also something to consider when deciding on a community college or a university. Universities tend to have much larger class sizes due to the amount of students that attend the school, and this can mean less one-on-one attention from teachers for you. Since community colleges usually have a much lower overall student population, class sizes are also much smaller. In fact, the average class size at community colleges ranges from 25-35, while classes at universities can have 100-150 students! If you enjoy one-on-one teacher attention, this can have a huge impact on your college decision.
Alondra you're thinking of community college first, always check to make sure your credits and AA degree will transfer when the time comes to transfer to a 4-year university.
Hope this helps Alondra
Updated
Lisa’s Answer
Hi Alondra, great question.
Undeclared simply means that a student has not yet declared a major, and this is absolutely okay. I understand that choosing one major among so many career options can be daunting and even scary, and many even change careers more than once in a lifetime.
If you cannot decide on a major just yet, you are among the majority as many enter the college sphere as 'undeclared.' With the focus in the first few years at colleges/universities on general education credits, you could choose to initially apply to a community college and then transfer to a four-year; or you could apply to a four-year as an 'undeclared' major and simultaneously complete the initial credits while visiting the on-campus career services office for assistance with declaring a major. The other approach is to declare a major of interest by speaking to a guidance counselor who could help you make a decision before applying to a college/university. The benefit to this approach is that you will enter college/university with a more focused approach and could immediately connect with that college department on campus that specializes in your field to help plan your academic path.
Overall, both options are acceptable. Wish you luck in choosing a major :)
Undeclared simply means that a student has not yet declared a major, and this is absolutely okay. I understand that choosing one major among so many career options can be daunting and even scary, and many even change careers more than once in a lifetime.
If you cannot decide on a major just yet, you are among the majority as many enter the college sphere as 'undeclared.' With the focus in the first few years at colleges/universities on general education credits, you could choose to initially apply to a community college and then transfer to a four-year; or you could apply to a four-year as an 'undeclared' major and simultaneously complete the initial credits while visiting the on-campus career services office for assistance with declaring a major. The other approach is to declare a major of interest by speaking to a guidance counselor who could help you make a decision before applying to a college/university. The benefit to this approach is that you will enter college/university with a more focused approach and could immediately connect with that college department on campus that specializes in your field to help plan your academic path.
Overall, both options are acceptable. Wish you luck in choosing a major :)
Updated
Clarissa’s Answer
Hi Alondra,
A student is considered 'undeclared' when they are applying to college but have not chosen a major. This is very common, as not many high school students know what they want to do with their lives at 18 and 19 years old. Many times during the first 2 years of college, you are taking basic courses (courses that will need to be taken for most majors). I call these years the 'exploratory years', where you are allowed and often encouraged to try different courses that may peak your interest. So many students do not 'declare' or decide on a major until entering their junior year.
There are also times that high school students DO declare a major when entering their freshman year -- however, it is very common for these kids to change their majors 1, 2 or more times. I would recommend that you ask your high school counselor to allow you to take a career interest assessment. These are really good in helping you determine your likes, desires, and passion, and also what your strengths or skills may be. There are things you are naturally good at, things you may not even realize, such as being naturally gifted at organizing or planning events.
So when the college application asks you to fill in your major and you are not sure, it is perfectly fine (and expectedly common) for you to fill in 'undeclared'.
Visit your High School Counselor and ask to take a career interest assessment
You may use this assessment as well: https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/interest-assessment.aspx
A student is considered 'undeclared' when they are applying to college but have not chosen a major. This is very common, as not many high school students know what they want to do with their lives at 18 and 19 years old. Many times during the first 2 years of college, you are taking basic courses (courses that will need to be taken for most majors). I call these years the 'exploratory years', where you are allowed and often encouraged to try different courses that may peak your interest. So many students do not 'declare' or decide on a major until entering their junior year.
There are also times that high school students DO declare a major when entering their freshman year -- however, it is very common for these kids to change their majors 1, 2 or more times. I would recommend that you ask your high school counselor to allow you to take a career interest assessment. These are really good in helping you determine your likes, desires, and passion, and also what your strengths or skills may be. There are things you are naturally good at, things you may not even realize, such as being naturally gifted at organizing or planning events.
So when the college application asks you to fill in your major and you are not sure, it is perfectly fine (and expectedly common) for you to fill in 'undeclared'.
Clarissa recommends the following next steps: