3 answers
Lily Jordan
Student
Paonia, Colorado
1
Question
Asked
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What's the best way to go about exploring my major interests in college as a freshman?
I have a lot of major interests, including psych, acting for theater and screen, TEFL, environmental sustainability & policy, journalism, linguistics, and creative writing. I'm really excited to go to college this fall and explore all of my interests, but I'm wondering what the best way to explore them is and also get the most out of my time at college. I'm going to be attending Western Washington University's Honors College. I'm definitely planning on talking to my academic advisor about it before registering for classes, but I wanted to get some input from here too.
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3 answers
Joseph Ford
241
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
Major in Liberal Arts which will give you the opportunity to select several classes in your interest. Eventually you will begin to streamline a major of interest. My daughter majored in Communication and ended up in China as an ESL teacher.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1403
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Lily,
This is a great place to be; you’re not “undecided,” you’re curious and multi-talented. The goal now isn’t to explore everything at once, but to explore intentionally so you don’t get overwhelmed or spread too thin. A simple way to approach your first year is to treat it like a structured discovery phase. Allow yourself to try different areas, but do it with focus. Instead of taking classes in all your interests at once, choose 2–3 areas per semester and go a little deeper in those. That way, you’re not just sampling, you’re actually learning enough to know if you enjoy it.
Also, don’t limit your exploration to the classroom. Some of your interests, like acting, journalism, and creative writing, are best explored through clubs, student organizations, or projects. You’ll learn faster by doing than by just taking classes. For example, joining a theater group, writing for a student publication, or working on creative projects can give you real insight into what those paths feel like.
As you explore, pay attention to two things: what you enjoy, and what you can sustain. Some interests are exciting in small doses but hard to commit to long-term. Others may challenge you, but feel meaningful and worth the effort. That difference will help you narrow your direction over time.
It will also be helpful to look for overlaps between your interests. For example, psychology connects with linguistics, journalism, and even acting through understanding people and communication. Sustainability and policy can connect with writing and storytelling. When you find these intersections, you don’t have to “choose one”; you can start shaping a unique path that blends them.
Talking to your academic advisor is a great step, but also try to build relationships with professors and older students. They can give you real insight into what each field is like beyond course descriptions. Most importantly, don’t pressure yourself to figure everything out in your first year. Your job right now is to explore with intention, reflect on what you’re learning about yourself, and gradually narrow your focus. You have a lot of interests, that’s not a problem. With the right structure, it can become your biggest advantage.
Best wishes!
This is a great place to be; you’re not “undecided,” you’re curious and multi-talented. The goal now isn’t to explore everything at once, but to explore intentionally so you don’t get overwhelmed or spread too thin. A simple way to approach your first year is to treat it like a structured discovery phase. Allow yourself to try different areas, but do it with focus. Instead of taking classes in all your interests at once, choose 2–3 areas per semester and go a little deeper in those. That way, you’re not just sampling, you’re actually learning enough to know if you enjoy it.
Also, don’t limit your exploration to the classroom. Some of your interests, like acting, journalism, and creative writing, are best explored through clubs, student organizations, or projects. You’ll learn faster by doing than by just taking classes. For example, joining a theater group, writing for a student publication, or working on creative projects can give you real insight into what those paths feel like.
As you explore, pay attention to two things: what you enjoy, and what you can sustain. Some interests are exciting in small doses but hard to commit to long-term. Others may challenge you, but feel meaningful and worth the effort. That difference will help you narrow your direction over time.
It will also be helpful to look for overlaps between your interests. For example, psychology connects with linguistics, journalism, and even acting through understanding people and communication. Sustainability and policy can connect with writing and storytelling. When you find these intersections, you don’t have to “choose one”; you can start shaping a unique path that blends them.
Talking to your academic advisor is a great step, but also try to build relationships with professors and older students. They can give you real insight into what each field is like beyond course descriptions. Most importantly, don’t pressure yourself to figure everything out in your first year. Your job right now is to explore with intention, reflect on what you’re learning about yourself, and gradually narrow your focus. You have a lot of interests, that’s not a problem. With the right structure, it can become your biggest advantage.
Best wishes!
Sydney Rosenberg
Campus Recruiter
7
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Sydney’s Answer
The best way to explore your interests in college is to stay open and get involved early. Going to career fairs can help you learn about different paths and meet people working in the fields you’re curious about. It also helps to talk with other students and professionals in each of those industries, since they can give you a real sense of what the day-to-day work is like and what kinds of opportunities are out there.
Since you have so many interests, you may find it helpful to try a few classes, clubs, internships, or volunteer experiences in different areas before deciding what feels like the best fit. College is a great time to explore, and you do not have to have everything figured out right away. The goal is to keep learning about yourself while building connections that can help guide your path.
Since you have so many interests, you may find it helpful to try a few classes, clubs, internships, or volunteer experiences in different areas before deciding what feels like the best fit. College is a great time to explore, and you do not have to have everything figured out right away. The goal is to keep learning about yourself while building connections that can help guide your path.