I was absolutely terrified to start college with an Undeclared major. All of my friends seemed to know exactly what they wanted to do with their lives – teacher, scientist, doctor – and I had no clue what I was passionate about. I was a self-conscious, introverted, band geek who loved my English classes and despised math, so I think I surprised everyone when I chose Accounting my junior year of college. But it was the best decision I've ever made, and I haven't looked back since. If you're nervous about picking a major and committing to something like I was, this is for you.
You are capable of so much more than you realize.
First off, you don't choose a major just because you think "well I'm not good at anything else." How do you know? There are SO many majors to choose from, and you might have strengths in subjects you had no idea about. High school is just a tiny sliver of all the opportunities waiting for you. For instance, I was obsessed with band and went in considering a degree in music education – that is, until I realized I lacked the empathy required of teachers and the discipline of a practicing musician and performer. So, I dropped that idea like a hot potato! You need to attend club meetings, social events, ANY and ALL activities that get you acquainted with a certain major. If something interests you that you never thought about before, go for it!
Who wants to be a senior taking freshman classes?
Being an Undeclared major is awesome because you get to start your basic classes immediately and get them out of the way the first two years. This way you're not taking Psychology I or Introduction to Leadership as juniors and seniors. Trust me, the LAST thing you want to do while preparing for a major final is to have to study for a basic course final at the same time. It throws everything off.
There is no reason to be embarrassed about leaving an open mind for your career.
Don't be ashamed when you tell your family, friends, etc. that you are going into college Undeclared. A ton of students will change their majors within the first two years of being at school, and a lot of credits won't transfer to their new degree path, so they end up staying longer than 4 years. Or they declare majors they thought they'd excel in but end up failing their classes because they are either not equipped mentally or they lack a passion for it, which kills their GPA.
When you know, you know.
When you're ready to commit to a major, you will feel it in your heart. While I was Undeclared, I considered marine biology, anthropology, music education, english education, marketing – I was all over the map. But when I took my first accounting class, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that accounting was where I was meant to be. I feel welcome and at home in the business building, and now I have friends that share my passion for my major.
