transfer student harpur looking to transfer to another department? possible?

<p>okay, I got accepted into harpur (liberal arts) at binghamton U this spring. I'll be a upper junior entering as undecided major. I browsed through the majors they offer for that department and nothing interest me. I heard you need to stay a semester before you can transfer to another department (som, watson, nursing, etc). Is this true? Since I'm not sure all the credits being transferred from my previous institution will be accepted, should I ask my adviser if its ok to take a full course load this spring on just General ed classes, and then start my major senior year(though I'm aware I am falling way behind?)</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Yes, you need a minimum of a semester to transfer between schools (not departments). It’s quite clear that you have no distinctive interests and because of that I urge you to stay in Harpur and find a major that is acceptable. The other schools at Binghamton are pre-professional, meaning that they are for people who want to become those specific things (accounting major —> accountant, nursing major ----> nurse). Since you are having trouble choosing a single major out of the many available in Harpur, switching schools would not be a good choice.</p>

<p>Unless of course, you absolutely know you want to be a computer scientist (or whatever), but that’s not what I’m reading here.</p>

<p>You’ll still need to take Gen. Eds., but use them as a way to explore some majors that interest you. There has to be something.</p>

<p>Yeah, normally when people aren’t really sure what they want to do, they transfer INTO the arts and sciences school, not out of it. I’m sure the majority of incoming students (I definitely had this experience) look at the list of majors and think “wow, I really can’t imagine doing any of these things.” But there are so many majors at Harpur. If you take some classes here and there, I think you might settle into something that you enjoy. </p>

<p>The other schools-- SOM, Watson, Decker, CCPA-- are obviously much more specific. Their students generally <em>know</em> that they want, for sure, to be a nurse. Or an engineer. For someone like you, who really isn’t positive, I think Harpur is where you want to be.</p>

<p>Only problem with a liberal arts degree is no job prospect especially with the employment the way it is today. Though no degree guarantees you a definite job, my chances of landing employment is better off switching to other schools --som, watson, decker, etc</p>

<p>Employers are also looking for people who like what they’re doing. If you don’t care for whatever you switch to, it can be very obvious. However, if you find a major in Harpur that you genuinely enjoy, it makes you an attractive candidate because you’ll be far more engaged in what you’re doing. </p>

<p>Also, a liberal arts major gives you the skills for a wide variety of careers, so you won’t be stuck becoming an accountant (or whatever) if you hate that. Don’t pick a major based on job prospects. Pick it because you’ll do well in it and enjoy it. Then apply those skills (writing, communication, analysis, research, etc.) to a job.</p>