Choosing a major

“So, what’s your major?”

No question evokes quite as much dread for the undeclared student as this one. I know this to be true not only as a Coach who has worked extensively with students, but because I was one my freshman year. And more than anything, I wish someone had told me what I am about to tell you: “It’s OK to be undeclared!” In fact, I think that it might even be preferable to enter college undeclared!

Why do I say that? A few myths debunked…
Being undeclared does not mean that you are a slacker – It means that you are open and flexible to discovering/uncovering various interests and passions.

Being undeclared does not mean that you are going to waste time – It may mean that you are going to save time by not changing your major halfway through, thereby losing classes/units that don’t count towards your new major.

Being undeclared does not mean that you are missing out on networking opportunities – It means that you are building relationships with professors from different departments and being exposed to multiple internship/job possibilities that are not exclusive to one major.

Whether you have already chosen a major, or haven’t yet declared one, here’s some things you may want to do to help you make sure you’re choosing one that’s right for you:

1. Go through a list of the Majors/Minors offered at your university. It may sound simplistic, but just start by crossing off majors that are not even remotely interesting to you, and then circle the ones that you want more info on, and lastly, star the ones that stand out as real possibilities.

2. Consider what opportunities you have for learning more about the major or majors you may be interested in: Are there internships you can explore? Are there clubs on campus? Are there classes you may want to take? Can you find people in the field you are interested in to speak with about their jobs?

3. Spend some time thinking through the pros and cons of different majors / careers from the perspective of life after college:

• How excited would you be to spend your entire day in a job that focuses in that field?
• What are the job market and salary levels like for the different careers you are considering?
• What further degrees would you consider getting, or need to get to be successful in that field?
• What flexibility would you have to live where you want based on the types of jobs that are available?

Your campus Career Center most likely has lots of resources to answer these questions. Most campuses also have “Undeclared Major” workshops/events that allow you to explore possibilities and get questions answered regarding career paths for certain majors.

4. Talk to your Coach. Tell him or her about thoughts you have had in the past about major choices, your expectations and/or concerns about certain majors, or even what other people have thought you should go into and why you thought that was a good or bad idea. Your Coach can really ask you those questions that will get you thinking about major options in a whole new way!

Choosing how to be involved on campus

Going to a candy store can be confusing business – there are sooooo many things to choose from! Some are obvious favorites (peanut butter cups, anyone?), and some I can not get away from fast enough (black licorice), but then there are those I’ve always wanted to try, but couldn’t decide if they were worth the risk (chocolate covered gummi bears).

Starting your freshman year can seem like being in a candy store. You have so many different opportunities and ways to get involved, but deciding exactly how to can be challenging. Do you stick with the favorites, i.e. the stuff you did in high school? Or do you try something new, not knowing how it’s going to work out? Here are some questions to consider:

• What did you enjoy doing in high school? Can you picture yourself wanting to do it in college as well? More, less, or to the same degree?
• What was something you always wanted to try in high school but never did? What was keeping you from trying it? What might push you to go for it now?
• If every club/organization in the world existed at your campus, what would you choose to do? If it’s not currently offered, what do you think about starting it yourself?
• What type of people do you want to meet and surround yourself with? What types of activities would draw those types of people?
• Are there some activities or clubs that would help you assess a potential career path? How about activities that would help you get valuable resume experience in areas like leadership?
• How much time are you willing to commit? Money? Energy?
• What would keep you from joining a particular club or organization?

Play with it! Enjoy checking out all the options. Talk to people both in the groups and outside the groups to get some more perspective. Explore and consider before committing. One thing is certain: you don’t want to end up like Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, overstuffed and always focusing on the next sweet. Packing in too many clubs and activities can be exhausting, and it can make it hard to enjoy each one because you feel pulled in so many directions. But always remember, if you choose something you don’t like, you can go back to the candy store to try again.

Meeting new people on campus

I’m sure you heard it all the time when you were a kid: Don’t talk to strangers. Well, as a new freshman in college, you need to start talking to all the strangers you can find …that is, unless you just want to hang out in your dorm room by yourself for the next four years!

It might seem obvious, but actually hanging out on campus is the best way to meet other students. If you are visiting your boyfriend or girlfriend off campus every weekend, then yeah, it’s going to be harder to get connected. So, enjoy your surroundings! There’s lots of ways to get yourself out there, whether you live on campus or off, so we’ve put together a Top 10 List to get you started:

Top 10 ways to meet other students

10. Strike up conversations with students in your classes. People love to talk about themselves, so the best way to get them talking is to just ask questions.

9. Get to know your roommates better. Forgive your roommate for not putting away her hairdryer and go chat and de-stress over some frozen yogurt.

8. Join a campus club or two to meet students with similar interests. And think outside the box – consider starting your own club if what you are interested in isn’t at your campus yet.

7. Consider whether rushing a sorority or fraternity is a fit for you. Talk to your RA and/or other upperclassmen to get more perspective on what it’s really like.

6. Play intramural sports. It’s a great way to get some exercise (aka fight the Freshmen 15) and you’ll meet fun people who aren’t afraid to make fools of themselves with sports they might not have ever played before – how’s that for getting outside your comfort zone?!

5. Host a game night in your hall. Get out the old board games…remember those? In the days before Wii and Guitar Hero? Try Apples to Apples , Catch Phrase, or Would you Rather…? for some hilarious moments.

4. Do your homework in the library instead of your room or, I know you might not want to have to start thinking about this already, but better to get ready for it now instead of later, organize a study group for an upcoming exam.

3. Eat your meals in the cafeteria and challenge yourself to talk to new people each time – even if it only means sharing a laugh with someone about the newest casserole sensation.

2. Use Facebook to connect with students at your new campus and organize face-to-face get-togethers. Take a look at your new Facebook friend’s pictures from Spain or Hawaii or even the neighborhood BBQ to get the dialogue going.

1. Be yourself and be positive. When in doubt, smile. You will be amazed at how much it can do.

Remember, you are not in this alone – everyone else in your freshman class is right there alongside you, meeting people and navigating the new social scene just like you are. And of course, you can always bounce ideas off of your Coach or talk through suggestions for how to meet people. Your life-long friends from college may just be the people you meet in the next few weeks!