#9 Recognizing Significance

Being Undecided
Today I will be writing about the importance of being undecided in a major. Some may believe that they should have their life figured out and know what they want to do in the future as they go into college, but that is not the case for everyone. Your major will be your everything through your college years, so it is very important if you believe a major is for you to be 100% on what field you like to study in. If you're not sure, then you can always take the route of exploring different classes the first year. It is said that, "An estimated 20 to 50 percent of students enter college as 'undecided' (Gordon, 1995) and as estimated 75 percent of students change their major at least once before graduation" (The Mentor). It is very important to realize that even those who go in thinking they know what they want to do, most likely do not. 75% of students is a large amount that switch their major, and it seems as if it may just be easier going in undecided from the start.

Development of first-year students 
The concept of students entering college knowing what they want to do during their four years is not realistic. It is said that students are not prepared at all to do so. First year students are still growing academically, socially, and physically. college in the "exploration stage" is a smart move. Making decisions are definitely hard, especially while you're still growing. When having to make a decision, you may have those close people to you that you want advice from. Advice is good, but you have to remember that this decision is based off of your personal goals.

Knowing the right major for you
 There is no reason to just pick a major to pick one if you're not completely set on it. You should really love what you would like to study in and you have to think about your personal interests. It is always a great idea to go to an advisor to have them help you. You are able to lay out all of your interests and look at the pros and cons of what you have an idea of studying in. Doing research on future jobs is also a great idea for figuring out the field that is perfect for you.

It should not be frowned upon to be undecided because a lot of people change their mind. You should not allow anyone to influence you in a demanding way on what you should or should not study.  undecided allows you to explore all of your options and find what you're truly looking for in the future.

For more details, go to:
https://dus.psu.edu/mentor/2013/06/disconnect-choosing-major/

-Julia

Gordon, V.N. (1995). The undecided college student: An academic career advising challenge (2nd.ed.) Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas

What Classes Should an Undecided College Student Take? By Sarah Rajan. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.