Some students enter college knowing exactly what they want to study, some think they know, and some have no idea. Most will change majors at least once.
Since nearly two-thirds of undergraduate students in the United States change majors before graduating and might consider up to four or five majors before finally deciding on one, a number of institutions actually prefer that students not declare a major until after they have started their college education. Even at those institutions that require prospective students to identify a major when they apply, students can usually select an “undecided” or “undeclared” major option.
While students do not have an unlimited amount of time to choose a major – most baccalaureate degrees are designed to be completed in four years with 120 semester credits – students often have until the end of their sophomore year to decide and still be able to complete their degree on time. Of course, students choosing to enter community colleges (two-year institutions that award associate’s degrees) must choose a major much sooner. And it is better for students to decide early if they choose a major for which a large percentage of the required coursework is in the major field (e.g., highly technical fields or some health fields) or if there are a large number of prerequisites (basic courses that must be taken before one is allowed to register for a more advanced course).
Written by Linda Tobash.
0 Responses to “When Does One Choose A College Major?”