<p>Would be ideal for some students, would work for some majors, but not all. For example, D2 is a Nursing major. The 4-year program of study for the BSN at her school has one elective. (There are about five gen ed requirements that can be satisfied with classes from a menu of choices, so she will get to choose about a half-dozen classes in her UG career.) If a student did not take the prescribed classes as a freshman, he/she would not be prepared to start clinicals as a sophmore and would have to basically start over as a second-year freshman.</p>
<p>My engineering school invented “engineering undecided” it came with a Freshman level intro class where professors from all the different kinds of engineering spoke to the class to help them decide what specialty would be best for them. They were hoping it would cut down on the “major changing” and the 5 year plans. I have no idea if it worked.</p>
<p>My sophomore has yet to decide on a major. It’s becoming painfully obvious that it may be difficult for him to graduate in 4 years if he doesn’t pick one soon. He would truly love to be a ‘renaissance man.’ At least when he finally picks one it will be because he has analyzed it to death. I guess that’s better than picking a major because it sounds easy or someone told them it was a good major!</p>
<p>Can anyone provide documented statistics on the percentage of students that change their major? I find it a little disturbing for a student in the first few days at college changing their major. I can understand a change at the end of the first semester, especially if you have looked into something else thoroughly. Usually the first semester is mostly general ed classes?</p>
<p>S1 went in as a math major intending to go to grad school in CS, and will graduate in the spring as a math major intending to work as a software engineer for a couple of years before grad school in CS.</p>
<p>S2 is still officially undeclared, though he has been saying IR since junior year of HS. Hasn’t gotten his tail over to the advisor to do the paperwork. He is taking all the degree requirements for it. Might add another major (Econ? Philosophy? GIS?). Will have a Russian minor.</p>
<p>ACollegeDad – I just googled and saw the figure of 55-60% who change majors, according to a number of sources.</p>
<p>MomLive - when I was a student they had a “General Studies” major/degree as a catch all for those students like your son. I changed majors (never liked the major my parents forced me into) and wound up creating my own major, “Children’s Media” in order to graduate in four years. Are either of these an option for your son?</p>
<p>S2 went in as a forensic chem major, still with that but has decided to do 2 degrees! son now doing forensic chem and molecular biology (BS degree in both) to graduate on time taking about 18-19 credits per semester and will do at least one summer semester also. Doing honors in both also so will have 2 honors research thesis. makes me tired just thinking about it</p>
<p>@Acollegedad, re: my son, who switched majors after five days of classes. He should have started as an undeclared major. However, he applied as biology/pre-med. At our large state flagship, at summer orientation and registration, the kids in that track were handed a list of classes to take. There were no options: biology/lab, chem/lab, whatever math you tested into, whatever English you tested into, and a freshman seminar. The bio and chem are weeder classes. </p>
<p>He didn’t drop the classes, and did quite well in them, but realized very quickly, that biology as a major was not what he wanted to pursue. He switched to English, which is a much more natural major for him. Excellent, analytical writer, loves to read, etc. </p>
<p>Med school doesn’t require one to have been a science major, as long as you take the required science and math classes.</p>
<p>D applied as Undecided. Designated a double major math/theatre before graduating HS. Changed during Orientation to math/music. Dropped math major during the 1st week. I fully anticipate at least one more change before college graduation…</p>