By Cinara Marquis
When an individual decides to go to college, they are thrust into a new world of unfamiliarity. They face a multitude of choices: Is college actually right for me? Which college should I go to? Do I stay in-state? But the biggest question these people face is: What should my major be?
When a student decides their major, they don’t just decide what they want to study during their academic career but also what they want to do with the rest of their life.
This is a huge choice. It is something that impacts you forever, and with the cost of college tuition on the rise, it is made even more important. The weight of the decision adds yet another layer of pressure to someone’s already busy life.
However, there is a way to alleviate these burdens and provide students with the opportunity to discover their true potential without binding them to uncertainty — requiring students to wait a year before declaring a major.
By delaying the pressure of choosing a major, students may avoid the stress and burnout associated with feeling locked into a path that may not align with their long-term goals.
Having all college freshmen claim no major allows them to explore different academic avenues and find their own passion through experimentation with no strings attached.
Students would no longer have to commit to premature decisions but instead think freely and embark on their own journeys. Instead of navigating the foreign environment of college academics with stress, students will be empowered to experience new things with curiosity.
Without the pressure of having to immediately decide on a major, students can focus on adjusting to college life and building a strong foundation.
Taking a range of introductory courses exposes students to different fields of study. While it allows them to make more informed decisions when selecting a major, it also equips them with transferable skills like critical thinking and creativity, skills that go beyond disciplinary boundaries.
Not only that, but it also encourages self-reflection, personal growth, and confidence through support from academic advisors and participation in extracurricular activities and clubs.
This approach offers assurance that a student’s informed decision is right for them and leads towards a fulfilling future.
