Some of us are immediately aware of what we want to do, or
be, when we become working adults. Some of us are a little more unsure and need
to figure out what we like before we commit to a major that is going to take a
few years (about 4-5) to complete. Whatever category you fall into, the fact is
that you are considering college and you should be aware of what it means to
declare a major or enter college as an undeclared major.
Traditionally, the first two years of college are spent
fulfilling GEs (general education) and taking elective courses to satisfy the
college requirement. One small exception to this is if you work hard and get
good scores on your AP (advanced placement) exams in high school. Scoring a 3
or above on certain AP exams guarantees you college credit for those subjects,
which in turn ensures that you don’t waste any time taking classes you don’t
need to take. This is especially beneficial if you know what major you want to
pursue since it provides you the ability to take core classes for your major
earlier than if you had to complete more GEs.
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| These guys were undeclared, and they did alright... for 17 episodes. |
That being said, the most important difference between
declaring a major and being undeclared is that when you declare you don’t have
to waste any time with unnecessary electives and you can focus on courses that
support your decision. Another important thing to consider is that certain
schools emphasize certain majors over others; for example, if you want to be an
engineer you don’t want to select a school with a strong emphasis in
communications. You want to choose the school with a strong engineering
department and apply to it.
The benefit of entering college as undeclared is that you
have some time to consider your options while you fulfill your GEs. Although the
pressure of not having chosen a major may seem heavy, you should remember that
sometimes certain majors are impacted and that going in undeclared can ensure
you a spot at the college/university of your choice that would not be available
if you tried to declare the specific, impacted major.
The choice between declaring a major or attending college
undeclared is something that requires a lot of thinking and careful planning.
Long before you start submitting college applications you should consider whether
you fall into the category of those who know exactly what they want to focus
on, and if you do then you should choose colleges that emphasize your
preference in major. If you fall into the category of those who are not too
sure, then don’t panic and consider your college choices based on other factors
(location, financial aid, aesthetics, etc.)
Whatever you decide, remember to think long and hard about
your choices ahead of time and not to procrastinate. Study hard for AP exams,
look into available
financial aid, and consider potential career paths that suit you
personally.
