“I don’t know what I want to major in yet, can that hurt my application? When do I need to pick a major by and how important is choosing the right major for my career?” – Alex R., Lakewood, NJ

A: Explore Your Major Possibilities

A student was absolutely certain that he wanted to major in biology and be pre-med. His extracurricular activities included working with autistic children, hospital volunteerism and genetic research in a clinic. I spoke with him just weeks after college began and he was in the business school! He found the program and students much more to his liking. Students change majors frequently in college. Yet, you can “test drive” a major now through job shadowing and internships. Also, go to web sites like http://uncw.edu/STUAFF/CAREER/Majors/index.htm, to learn about majors of interest and the potential careers that may emanate from those majors.

– Michael Goran – Director and Educational Consultant, IvySelect College Counseling

A: Follow your passions…and then your new passions

After building a music business in high school, Adam applied to colleges with strong music business programs. He got into some, not all, and chose one with a strong music business program. Then freshman year, he changed his mind, and the school didn’t have many other majors he wanted. Now he is a happy history major at another college. Colleges love kids with passions. But if you’re undecided, then view that as your passion. That is your right. College is the time to explore and give yourself the change your mind, your passions, and major. And then sometimes the college.

– Rebecca Joseph – Executive Director and Founder, Get Me To College

A: If you’re ready to choose a major, choose one; if not, don’t!

My favorite college-major story goes like this: a student I’ll call Nick was convinced he wanted to be a psychology major in college. But after two semesters of Introduction to Psychology, his professor asked him, “What have you learned this year?” Nick’s sheepish, but honest, reply was that he DIDN’T want to be a psych major. And his psych prof said, “That’s a great thing to learn!” If you want to be an engineer or an architect, it’s probably important to know that earlier, and to apply directly to programs that support those goals. If, otherwise, you have no idea what you want to do with the rest of your life, a liberal arts education–taking classes liberally across the curriculum, in as many departments as possible–is the best way to find the major for you.

– Mary Beth Fry – Director of College Counseling, Savannah Country Day School

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