Dan Johnston, Regional Director of Pennsylvania’s Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), states that the worst advice you can give a college student is: "If you don't know what major you want, go as an undeclared student. You can decide on your major after a few basic courses."
Not everyone may know what field they would like to pursue, but that also doesn't mean you should waste away two years of university taking courses that you may have no interest at all in.
Johnston, who conducts college presentations and workshops, says, "...the idea that a large number of students without a career plan can take a few basic courses, then suddenly ‘find’ themselves (to the tune of $20,000 to $50,000 per year), is sadly pathetic and needlessly expensive.” It is completely understandable that many eighteen-year-olds entering college have no idea what they would like to study, but it is also a fact that everyone in this world has a passion or something that they enjoy doing.
The biggest fallacy that college sells to those uncertain eighteen-year-old students is that it is perfectly acceptable to twiddle your thumbs in intro courses for two years while deciding on a field of interest because while students do that, the college rakes in big hunks of tuition for their idleness.
Then, these undeclared students go on to "find their passion," and must reconfigure a schedule to take all the required courses for their major, many of which do not fall under basic or foundation courses, and acquire more debt.
Simon Sinek, a professor at Columbia University, published author, motivational speaker, and marketing consultant, believes that one of the finest characteristics of the American higher education system is the ability to test out different classes and majors before settling on one versus the European system of going in declared around age sixteen.
On the other hand, famous daytime talk show host and prominent female media guru, Wendy Williams, questions, what is an undeclared major? During one of her speaker broadcasts for the National Society of Leadership and Success, Williams said, "Who has time for that?" She went on to describe how it seems like a method for rich kids to take advantage of while other people don't have the time and money to do so. In reality, the undeclared major truly is a mechanism for students to "explore their options" while paying absurd amounts of money to do so.
So, what is the solution to the paradox of the undeclared major? I believe that more needs to be done in high school so that students are better able to pursue their interests at college. While students need to be more proactive in high school, high schools also need to advertise programs and opportunities. A great way to understand college and the classes offered is to go and sit in on a real lecture, enroll in dual-enrollment programs, and do your research.
Wendy Williams made me laugh during her broadcast when she said that her favorite book in eighth grade was "Barron's Guide to Colleges." I laughed because I kept my "Fiske Guide to Colleges" close by during my high school career, and many students have no idea what a guide to college is.
I had many friends in high school say, "There's no need to worry about college now, Jill, you have plenty of time." Some of those same friends never caught the deadline to apply to school. As Oscar Wilde says, "You can never be overdressed or overeducated," and I couldn't agree more.
Doing your research and following your dreams only leads you to good opportunities, and if I had never read that book I would've never known what colleges and universities even offer fashion merchandising programs because let me tell you, there aren't many.
College is not the route everyone should take because every person has different talents and passions, but for those who are looking to receive a higher education, it's important to start researching in high school. Go to your college fair, take pamphlets, write your email address down, and most importantly, speak with the representatives who come to visit.
The only way to see if a school is a good fit for you is to learn about it, visit, and shadow a student if you can. As Forbes Magazine puts it, "A better option is to audit a college course as a high school student or attend a community college and take a few courses without the big expense of attending full-time at a four-year college."
Not everyone's path to success is the same, and no student should fall into the trap of the undeclared major at the expenses of college tuition in 2017, because prices only continue to rise, and what you get isn't always what you need.
