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Choosing a college when you're undecided?
If you are still unsure of what you want to study in college, what factors should you consider when choosing a school to apply to? #Fall24
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Tony’s Answer
If you are not sure what you want to study, I would suggest looking at schools that: a) offer a wider variety of majors and courses of study, b) offer good access to faculty and alumni, and c) make it relatively easy to explore or change your major. As you look at different colleges and universities, try to contact people who previously attended or are currently attending those schools to find out how easy it is to learn about different majors, to engage with faculty, and to get access to alumni.
In addition to offering you more choices regarding your major, a school with a variety of majors provides the opportunity to interact with faculty as well as upperclass students who are already taking classes in those majors to get their perspectives on why they chose those majors, what the classes are like and how they plan to leverage those majors in their careers. University departments sometimes hold events that allow you to meet students and faculty involved in certain majors.
Many schools publish campus newsletters and alumni newsletters or magazines. These are useful resources to find out about events as well as hearing about what is going on with different university departments and alumni who graduated with various majors. If these newsletters are not available online, ask schools that you are considering if they will send you one. These newsletters can give you an idea of what kinds of events are available on campus to help you explore different majors and how those events are communicated.
Different schools have different policies regarding majors. Some schools allow you to select any major while others may require you to apply and be admitted to a specific department, for example the "college of engineering." At the schools my children attended, one of the schools specifically pointed out to us parents how students were free to change majors as their career goals become more clear; at the other school, changing majors was almost like reapplying to the university.
Finally, if you are not sure what you want to study, another path to consider is spending a year or two at community college where you can take care of some of the general education requirments that are common to many majors while exploring some electives to help you determine what majors may interest you. Be sure to pick a program that makes it easy to transfer credits to a 4-year university.
In addition to offering you more choices regarding your major, a school with a variety of majors provides the opportunity to interact with faculty as well as upperclass students who are already taking classes in those majors to get their perspectives on why they chose those majors, what the classes are like and how they plan to leverage those majors in their careers. University departments sometimes hold events that allow you to meet students and faculty involved in certain majors.
Many schools publish campus newsletters and alumni newsletters or magazines. These are useful resources to find out about events as well as hearing about what is going on with different university departments and alumni who graduated with various majors. If these newsletters are not available online, ask schools that you are considering if they will send you one. These newsletters can give you an idea of what kinds of events are available on campus to help you explore different majors and how those events are communicated.
Different schools have different policies regarding majors. Some schools allow you to select any major while others may require you to apply and be admitted to a specific department, for example the "college of engineering." At the schools my children attended, one of the schools specifically pointed out to us parents how students were free to change majors as their career goals become more clear; at the other school, changing majors was almost like reapplying to the university.
Finally, if you are not sure what you want to study, another path to consider is spending a year or two at community college where you can take care of some of the general education requirments that are common to many majors while exploring some electives to help you determine what majors may interest you. Be sure to pick a program that makes it easy to transfer credits to a 4-year university.
Updated
Kennedy’s Answer
Hi Grace, great question! I also struggled to understand which factors were most important to me when choosing a college. It's hard when you don't know what you don't know! However, there were some things I learned that ended up being very important to me. The first was the course selection process. Many schools have different ways students can apply/elect courses. For me, it was important to have a large degree of freedom in choosing courses. Especially going into college undecided, I wanted to make sure I had the opportunity to explore lots of subjects. Some schools have much stricter/rigid course selection processes. Secondly, the size of the school was important. I wanted to go some place where I would have a good amount of access to my professors, and variability in my class size. I was able to take some larger lecture courses, but also smaller more intimate seminar courses which were equally valuable. Lastly, I think the financial aid/scholarship programs available were very important. Which varies considerably by school. If that is something important to you, I would research and look out for schools that offer need-based financial aid. In this case, the schools will provide as much aid as possible.
Updated
Lynn’s Answer
Dear Grace,
One wise strategy is to opt for a school that offers a broad spectrum of majors. Institutions like state colleges or universities are renowned for their extensive range of academic pathways. Given that you are still exploring your interests, it might be beneficial to consider the financial aspect as well. Public schools often present a more economical choice compared to private ones, especially if you foresee a potential need to switch schools in the future.
In the initial phase, focus on general studies that are universally applicable to any major. Utilize this time to engage with career counselors and academic advisors from areas that pique your curiosity. If you're aiming for a 4-year degree, your first year can be dedicated to general education, providing you with ample opportunity to delve into your prospective major.
Remember, there's absolutely no rush to declare a major right away! It's financially prudent to hold off until you're sure, so you don't end up spending valuable resources on unnecessary classes.
Best Wishes,
Lynn
One wise strategy is to opt for a school that offers a broad spectrum of majors. Institutions like state colleges or universities are renowned for their extensive range of academic pathways. Given that you are still exploring your interests, it might be beneficial to consider the financial aspect as well. Public schools often present a more economical choice compared to private ones, especially if you foresee a potential need to switch schools in the future.
In the initial phase, focus on general studies that are universally applicable to any major. Utilize this time to engage with career counselors and academic advisors from areas that pique your curiosity. If you're aiming for a 4-year degree, your first year can be dedicated to general education, providing you with ample opportunity to delve into your prospective major.
Remember, there's absolutely no rush to declare a major right away! It's financially prudent to hold off until you're sure, so you don't end up spending valuable resources on unnecessary classes.
Best Wishes,
Lynn
Updated
Haley’s Answer
Hi Grace! For me, one of the most important factors I considered both for undergrad and law school was whether or not I felt as though I would do well at a certain school. For example, when visiting schools, interviewing, etc., I would ask myself whether I felt as though (i) the school would offer a supportive and inclusive learning environment that would enable me to do my best, (ii) I could easily make friends or join clubs that were of interest to me, (iii) the school had an alumni base that I could leverage (e.g., having a strong NY alumni base was important at the time as I am from NY and at the time wanted a career in NY); and (iv) whether students seemed friendly and supportive as opposed to very competitive and cutthroat. These are just a few of the questions I'd keep in mind, but they all boiled down to me making a decision as to whether I would feel supported to do my best. Also, for what it's worth, I actually transferred schools after my first semester. In transferring, I very slightly pivoted into a different but related major, which did not impact where my career ultimately took me. I also had an incredible experience at the school I transferred to (and graduated from). While choosing a school is an important decision, try to remember that no decision is permanent and you can always change your major, change schools and change interests if you want to. Hope this helps!