College Gameplan: The Ins and Outs of the Major

by Chris Rotolo

To declare one’s major is to announce to the world of higher learning that one has arrived. Declaring a major is a significant concept to the collegiate scholar and places those who depart from high school with a career choice in mind at somewhat of an advantage, in the sense that those students can start taking core classes right from the start. The decision is an important one and should not be stared upon with a lazy eye. The following will assist you with the decision making process, offering you a brief insight of the factors a prospective college student needs to consider, research, and evaluate.

Do Not Panic:
Before we go any further it needs to be stated that although choosing a major is imperative to your college success, there is no need to put a rush on your decision. Does it help to have an idea of what you might like to focus your studies around right away? The answer is obviously yes. However, if you can’t think of anything off the top of your head, there is no need to sound the alarm. Although not true of every institution, most schools do not require their students to declare a major until the end of their sophomore year or even the beginning of their junior year. As stated before, this notion is not set in stone so be sure to do some homework on the matter. However, for the most part, you will have plenty of time to do research and come to an informed conclusion.

Choosing the Right Major:
It has already been stated that choosing a major directly out of high school is the suggested plan of action, but do not make any hasty decisions just to say you have a major. There is no point in jumping to conclusions if your heart is not in what you choose to study. Your interest will falter, the work will seem tedious, and it will show in your final grades. Making sure you pick the right major is the most important thing you can do to ensure your success.

Get by With a Little Help From Your Advisor:
The only way to choose the correct major for you is to conduct research. Prior to entering college you can talk to friends and family about the majors offered at their school. Every university offers tours of its campus. Take the tour, ask the guide questions and meet with head of the department you may be interested in. If a meeting can not be scheduled, e-mail is a great tool and is usually the preferred method of communication of professors and administrators. Sticking with the computer theme, every university has a Web site that lists majors, minors, and provides a catalog of most courses offered at the school.

Once you start paying tuition at the college of your choice, if your major is still undeclared, there are a number of research methods at your finger tips. The first step is to meet with your academic advisor. This advisor may be a professor or a department head. Every student is assigned to an advisor and you must not hesitate to seek out the advisor for help (you pay thousands of dollars a year to attend that college and that advisor works for you so get your money’s worth). The advisor can help you explore your interests through career tests and other specific career exploration exercises. Once your major is chosen you and your advisor should formulate a game plan for your academic career.

Introductory Courses:
If the initial proceedings with your advisor do not help, you should be counseled to take a series of introductory courses. The intro courses should be in a wide array of subjects in the hope that one of the classes may spark an interest and focus your academic course load. This spark may lead you in the direction of a major.

Do Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s State of Affairs:
So here’s the situation. You’ve moved your stuff into the dorm room, the first week of classes is upon you, and you still have no idea what you want to do with your life? All your friends have declared a major, they are taking their core classes, and you would trade situations with them in a heart beat. Before you start drawing up the transaction papers and panicking (which, if you have read the prior paragraphs you would know is unnecessary), you should understand that according to studies, 50-70% of students will change majors during their college careers. As important as college is, it is still an experimental period. It will open your eyes to new career possibilities you never dreamed possible.

How to Make the Major Switch:
If you fall into the category that 50 to 70% of students in America do, at some point during your schooling you will switch your major. It is recommended, that if you are pondering a switch, to speak to your academic advisor. Together the two of you can formulate a plan of action for your classes. Now, although it is simple to say you want to switch majors, there may be certain forms that must be filled out to make the change official. Again, speak to your advisor and find out the college’s protocol.

The Double Major:
Not to be confused with an ejection in hockey, the double major can be very beneficial to a college student. The most obvious benefit to double majoring is, quite simply, that it makes you look great in the eyes of a potential employer. The better your resume, the more marketable and dynamic you become, making it easier to get a job after graduation.

Another reason the double major is valuable is because it broadens your range of expertise. Instead of being trained for four years in one area, you will be educated in multiple fields opening up more doors for you during your post college job search.

Although a valuable feat if completed, the double major does have its downside. A student with a double major must earn more credits to graduate than a student with only a single major. This ultimately means more classes need to be taken which requires more time and more money. The double major is not for everyone so make your decision wisely. Again, stress is placed on doing research.