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Is it okay to go into college undecided?

I've been told by some people that you shouldn't because colleges only take a certain amount of undecided majors, whereas others tell me its completely fine.
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Angela’s Answer

Hi Emily,


Yes! It is perfectly fine to go into college undecided. I did not know what I wanted to do when I entered into college so I took a variety of classes before declaring a major. College is a great time to explore different material and find out what you like. Do not feel pressured into declaring a major when you are applying. I would recommend taking some time to find out what you are interested in and then declare.


Good luck!
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Paul’s Answer

Hi Emily:

Yes, it is very acceptable to go to college undecided. Matter of fact about 50% of the students who enter college are exactly like you. On many college applications the institutions will inquire to what preference of a major you have, but many college students wait until their junior years to finally determine what major they will ultimately pursue.


Most of your first two years of college will be dedicated to completing the university core educational requirements. Which means you will be finishing mandatory classes in English, mathematics, social sciences, humanities and natural sciences, which will eventually lead into selecting a major for your last two years of college.


During my experiences as an academic advisor, I discovered that most of the students who selected a major early in their academic career, eventually ended up changing to another major because they discovered the major they believed they wanted was just not something they were interested in pursuing, and during the course completing their college core requirements, they encountered something they loved even more.


College is a great opportunity for you to take a wide variety of classes, and see what sparks your interests and passions. Things which you believed you disliked in high school, just might be something for you to pursue in college. In addition, there will be so many other subject areas, which you did not have an opportunity to take in high school. Subjects like cultural studies and ethnic and gender studies will be courses which you may be able to take. Other classes in the arts and humanities will also be available for you to take. I have always advised students to not commit to a major so quickly, because something that may have sounded great a long time ago, may not be a good option for them. Your college experience should be about who you are and what you love, and ultimately, when it comes to the end of each day, your opinion and decision is the one which will matter the most in life. So I would explore a lot when you reach college and investigate your options and determine what major your would eventually like to pursue. You should have at least two years to eventually make a firm decision.

Paul recommends the following next steps:

Review all the various classes and possible majors at your college and university
Visit the career department at the college. You can determine which majors are working in particular jobs and speak with a career counselor for guidance.
Look at internship opportunities. See what majors you are interested in have summer internships and pursue them to obtain more experience and possible academic credit.
Determine your interests when you arrive at the university. Explore the large variety of courses and take classes which peak your interests.
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Bonnie’s Answer

Yes it’s acceptable to go to college undecided. A lot of students change their majors multiple times before they land on the right path.
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Gloria’s Answer

Hi Emily,

I have never heard of a college that has placed a limit on undecided majors. It can take sometime for people to decide what they want to do. Most students use the first two years to decide while completing the core credits required by the school. This is a time for you to determine what major would appeal to you. How? You should be flexible in filling your core classes. Take an acting class as an elective. Take a science class that you know little about. This will expose you to various areas of study that may appeal to you. Also use your resources at the student center. Go there to connect with other students and learn about their majors and why they decided on themj. What you need to decide is information. Plus, you need to understand yourself. What do you like to study? What do you consider a dream job? Does that dream job have a specific major to make it happen?

I would say, do not be in a hurry to commit to a major. Learn more about what is out there and what appeals to you.

Gloria
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Daniel’s Answer

I would say most people go into college undecided. They may have a major there leaning towards, that they feel fits them, but they often have no real idea what they want to do . The best way to do this is to take classes and learn what you like first hand. Most high schools around the country don't offer even half the options offered by most colleges, so its nearly impossible to know what suits you best. Freshman year is an important year for figuring that out!
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Pro’s Answer

Try an Interdisciplinary, Liberal Studies, or General Studies major, that will let you combine multiple interests. Or an Individually Designed major that you can even name yourself.
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