<p>My D is choosing between Penn State and Pitt for an undecided major.</p>
<p>Hoping that a current Pitt student/parent can advise as to how the "undecided" major in the College of Arts and Sciences at Pitt works in practice. How is the advising for undecided students? Are students who begin as "undecided" typically able to graduate in 4 years once they decide on a major or do they end up behind because they have not started the major requirements in the first year?</p>
<p>Thanks for any advice from CAS undecided students/parents!</p>
<p>Your question depends entirely on the major that is eventually selected. My daughter started out undecided, which I think many, many students do. Fortunately for her, she was taking physics, chemistry, and mathematics, plus a language, so she has a good foundation for about anything. I also think your question hinges a bit on whether your daughter has any AP credits. Pitt was pretty generous with AP credit and my daughter’s credits filled requirements. </p>
<p>I know exactly nothing about Penn State. But my advice to a child who is undecided would be to try to take some classes that apply to many majors as general ed requirements, and if she does have some idea, she might take courses that apply to several majors. I am also a fan of those courses that explore careers.</p>
<p>My son went to Pitt because it seemed easier to get core classes covered at Pitt and then enter a major without being behind. it is easy to get the requirements for each major and schedule classes where there are overlaps. Pitt has a Liberal Arts Base, so everyone has to take a variey of classes and get exposed. When we talked to the folks at Penn State it sounded tougher to move around. so far he loves Pitt and has all of his bases covered for the business programs and a minor in Spanish, but none of the courses will be wasted if he goes another direction - they will count as math requirements, english, etc…</p>
<p>I heard a statistic that 70% of college freshmen end up changing their major. So I wouldn’t worry about being undecided.</p>
<p>My daughter has been very happy with the advising at Pitt. I think even if a kid has a major in mind as a freshman, he or she gets the same general advising. My daughter always found it very helpful to her, not rushed or assembly line in nature. The departmental advising doesn’t take over until a major is officially chosen at the end of sophomore year. My daughter (psych major) has been really pleased with that too. I think an undecided major would do fine at Pitt.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is that there are a lot of gen ed requirements at Pitt. The categories are pretty broad, though, and I’m sure your daughter will find plenty of interesting options. While she’s completing the requirements, she will get a better idea of what she wants to major in.</p>
<p>A bigger question to me would be the setting of the two schools. Either your daughter will prefer an urban campus, or one more rural. To me the two schools present distinct choices, and Pa. residents are really lucky in that regard. Have you visited both?</p>
<p>thanks for your input; we’ve visited Pitt twice and going back for a second look at Penn State soon. You’re right the two are very different campuses, but they are both appealing in their own way. Want to make sure that we aren’t losing sight of the academic aspects!</p>