How Do the Undecided Decide?

Parents Forum
1

<p>There are lots of undecided college freshman out there who have not declared a major. They have a year or more to make that call and that time to mature can be a really good thing. In some ways, college is really all about that kind of self-exploration and investigation. </p>

<p>What is the experience of those on this board regarding undecided students? Is there counseling, testing, etc that takes place in the college 'guidance' office? Do students make decisions based upon a class/es they've taken and enjoyed?? Do advisors offer suggestions? What happens during that semester (or three!) that helps students select a major and ultimately a career goal?? I had four majors and fully believe that I would have enjoyed any of those four professional fields, but I can't really pinpoint why I chose what I chose!! Please share your experiences.</p>

2

<p>My originally proposed majors that I put on my application are neither of the majors that I have now. I finally chose the majors (Spanish, Classical Civilization) because I fully enjoy learning about the subjects, and the classes are fun to attend. Also, the departments have some great teachers. For one of my two majors, one of my instructors was a major reason why I gave the subject a chance and eventually chose it as a major. He made that subject fun to learn.</p>

3

<p>DD is entering her sophomore year. She MUST declare a major by the end of this year at her school. She'll figure something out by then. Re: freshmen and majors...the vast majority of college students do NOT complete college in the major they thought they wanted as freshmen. Many switch ideas several times.</p>

4

<p>Most of the "decided" students become undecided after taking some classes in college. </p>

<p>About half of the premeds change their mind once they find out what it takes to stay the course.</p>

<p>A lot of kids who are "good at math" in HS think that they want to be math majors, but find college math to be very different from what they used to be good at. Many change their mind.</p>

<p>There are many disciplines and majors that kids are not familiar enough with when they start college -- psychology, sociology, anthropology, classics, etc. all may become much more (or much less) appealing than they first thought.</p>

<p>I really don't like when schools "lock" their freshmen into a major (or even into one field, such as engineering) from the day one.</p>

5

<p>
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I really don't like when schools "lock" their freshmen into a major (or even into one field, such as engineering) from the day one.

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</p>

<p>I don't think that kids are locked in to engineering after one year. </p>

<p>The classes of an engineering Freshman (and even sophamores at some schools) tend to be a lot of engineering prerequisites (Math, Science, Programming), general education courses (humanities and social sciences), and maybe an introductory engineering class or two. I think that most of these courses probably count toward the general education requirements of other majors, so I don't think it would be hard to change from engineering to something else.</p>

<p>I think it is harder to change from some non-related major into engineering, though. If a kid doesn't start off with the Freshman courses that are prerequisites for the next three years of engineering classes, he/she will have some serious catching up to do. In that sense, those who do not select engineering (or something close) from the beginning may be "locked out"</p>

<p>At many schools, all engineering majors have pretty much the same classes for the first year or even two. "Undecided" engineering majors who don't know which discipline they are interested in (Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, etc.) usually have a year or two make up their mind.</p>

<p>
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About half of the premeds change their mind once they find out what it takes to stay the course.

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<p>From what I saw years ago, that tended to be shortly after taking Organic Chem. ;)</p>

6

<p>
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I don't think that kids are locked in to engineering after one year.

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Both of my kids went to schools where they were accepted into the university (or college), and could take any classes, and had declare their major by the end of sophomore year (and could change it later as well). It is my understanding, however, that some schools (Berkley, for example) admit their freshmen into a specific major, and changing it can be very difficult, especially if they want to change into something more popular than what they were originally planning.</p>

<p>Going to a "tech school" (like CalTech or Harvey Mudd) also pretty much locks you into tech-related field, and if you find out later that it's not for you, you may find yourself with no good alternatives...</p>

7

<p>I almost flunked o-chem, which was a 2 semester requirement course for the bio major I was thinking of. Since I didn't quite get a C- the first time around, and since I couldn't take the first semester over until the following year, I ditched the bio major 1st semester sophomore year. Luckily, I had already taken many of the required courses for both a Psych or Soc major as part of the bio major requirements, and liked both the intro courses I had taken. So, I took more Psych and Soc courses 2nd semester Sophomore year and ultimately decided on a Sociology major with a Psychology minor.</p>

8

<p>nngmm,
Switching majors is not difficult at Caltech. Everyone has CORE classes over first 2 years. One can later declare a major in humanities. Of course, I don't think many students enter Caltech without planning on a sci/math/eng/eco major.</p>

<p>Its different at other schools, where there are separate schools for Eng or CS or science.</p>

9

<p>I do believe there is the ocassional humanities major at Caltech. There are also some Caltech students who will go on to Law School or other places where the science connection is less obvious. I started off thinking I'd major in history, but realized quickly that I didn't really enjoy it. I chose my major because of the course I enjoyed most as a freshman. My oldest OTOH has been fixated on computer programming since he was 7, so I didn't mind that he went to a school where you are divided into schools from the start. (Even so he has to pick a minor.)</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
Going to a "tech school" (like CalTech or Harvey Mudd) also pretty much locks you into tech-related field, and if you find out later that it's not for you, you may find yourself with no good alternatives...

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</p>

<p>Not as true for Mudd since you can offcampus major at the other 5Cs.</p>

11

<p>Every college has a career planning office. Every college also has faculty members who would be happy to help advise students going through the process of deciding on a major. The problem is that <em>most</em> students don't use either. Many students don't darken the door of career services until senior year or think that professors are "too busy" to help them sort things out or they're embarrassed to admit that maybe their original major is not exactly what they want any longer.</p>

<p>Career planning offices almost always offer resources and testing to help students pinpoint their interests and strengths, and can also point them towards internships where they can "try out" potential careers. So, one important thing you can do if your child is struggling with major choice is nudge them towards the career planning office in freshman year.</p>

<p>Also encourage them to talk with their professors about what different majors are really going to be like (most kids, surprisingly, don't really know this stuff) and what career options, beyond the obvious, might stem from different majors. (Of course, keep in mind that lots of people won't end up doing something directly related to their major).</p>

<p>I highly recommend a new book called 25 Ways to Make College Pay Off by Bill Coplin. Coplin is a professor at Syracuse University and his book is about the ways parents can help their students make informed decisions about picking a major and preparing for a career right from the first day of freshman year. It is worth reading.</p>

<p>On a personal note, my daughter went back and forth all last year (her freshman year) about what she was going to major in. She had one major in mind, psychology, that she felt she "should" do, because it seemed "more acceptable" and another major, studio art, that played to her talents and passions but that she feared was "less acceptable." </p>

<p>At my urging, she talked with professors in both departments that she felt comfortable with about the majors, the abilities/talents/skills needed for both majors, and potential job options. </p>

<p>Her psychology professor wisely pointed out to her that most potential psych. majors are looking at it as a "way to help people" but that majoring in psychology actually takes less "people skills" and more quantitative and science skills, neither of which are my daughter's strengths. He also discussed the types of jobs that would be available with just a Bachelor's in psychology and the type of additional training that would be required to move beyond those sorts of jobs.</p>

<p>The art professor, bless his heart, had her to go to Craig's list and come up with a list of job openings related to psychology and another related to art. When she came back with the lists, he asked her, which jobs sound like more fun to you? He then discussed more ideas of things that she could do with an art major that she hadn't thought about and pointed out that the department felt she was very talented and wanted her to pick them badly! He also suggested that over the summer she take a course in graphic design to start thinking beyond "drawing and painting." </p>

<p>These two wonderful professors really helped my daughter sort out her options, her strengths, her talents, and her interests -- and neither "told" her what to major in, they just helped her consider the possibilities, which is exactly what good mentors should do. Honestly, neither my husband nor I could have done the same as we both had our own biases about what she "should" major in. </p>

<p>She officially declared her major in studio art last week and she's looking forward to the next three years and the possiblities for what comes after college. Her art professor (now her advisor) has helped her set up a plan for courses, internships, and study abroad that will help her maximize her job options when she graduates, whether or not she does end up doing something art-related. Career services has also set her up with an internship and several other opportunities as well.</p>

<p>So, encourage your kids to talk to their professors AND the career services office early and often. Have them try internships in different fields (and many career services offices can also set up short term job shadowing as well), and look into the requirements for advancing in careers related to the major. There are lots of online resources as well, but I'd start with having them talk to faculty and career services.</p>

12

<p>By the way, I just want to point out that there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with transferring if your plans/interests change or clarify and your "first" college is no longer a fit. I did it back in the dark ages and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Believe me, the career planning office at even techy schools like Cal Tech can help doubtful engineers reassess and re-evaluate. Life is too short to think you are "locked in" to any major or college. There are ALWAYS other options.</p>