So the semester is officially underway, you’ve become a pro when it comes to finding your classes, you’ve made some new friends and you’re finally settling into your place here at the Swamp. But is there something missing?
This time last year the answer for me was yes. Although I had my service, involvement and social life under control I had no idea what major I wanted to have. At preview you are bombarded with so many choices. I was so overwhelmed that I donned the Exploratory major. Otherwise, I knew that I would change my mind about my major daily. So what did I do and what can you do to make this important decision?
Do your homework. There are so many resources available to help you make your decision. Did you know you can major in Turf Management? Or even create your very own unique major? The possibilities are endless. Good places to look for what majors UF has and what classes they require can be found on the Undergraduate Catalog.
Talk to Advisors. I know it seems pretty daunting, but this is what advisors are here for. No one knows the majors that they represent better than they do. Many advisors have walk- in office hours where you can go whenever it’s convenient for you or if you have a busy schedule you can make an appointment. Just look on the website of the college that you think you’d be interested in having a major in like CLAS, CALS, Business, Education, Health and Health Professions, Journalism or any other college and look for the undergraduate advising hours.
Ask the right questions. Before your meeting with an advisor have a list of questions ready to make the most of your session. Some examples of this would be:
- What kinds of classes am I required to take with this major?
- What career opportunities will be available for this major?
- Are there any extra requirements with this major?
- Are there any student organizations associated with this major?
Also, most advisors have handouts with information about their majors and examples of course schedules through your senior year. Definitely take advantage of these! Especially if you’re seeing more than one advisor it’ll be easier to remember the advisor and the major later with the information on hand.
Talk to people. Other advisors may also be a help to you on your quest to find the right major. If you’re pre-med you can visit the Pre-Health advisors or if you’re Pre-Law there’s advisors for you too. If you aren’t on a pre-professional track or need a push in the right direction you can see your Honors Advisor. Also, you can ask other students. If you know older students who are involved in things that you are interested in or have a major you’re considering, ask them about it. However, take input from other students with a grain of salt. Majors fit differently for everyone. Just because one student has had a bad experience doesn’t mean that a major is bad or too hard. It could be that they just haven’t found the right fit for them!
Follow your heart. It’s ridiculously cheesy, but honestly this is the best advice I can give you. Just because you are Pre-Med does not mean you need to be a science major. You are going to have to take the courses required for the professional track anyway, so why not have a major that adds classes to your schedule that you love. Not only will it make your schedule seem more do-able, you’ll enjoy your college experience more.
To start with your search ask yourself “What do I like?” and go from there. All last year I tried to take classes to answer this question. And I can tell you now, I don’t like math or core sciences, I love history, social science and language. However, I realized that in the search for your major the answer is most often found in life. This summer I realized I love nutrition, making Food Science and Human Nutrition the perfect major for me. It’s been a long road with plenty of majors in between, but I’m happy that I went through the lengths I did to choose the major I have. I couldn’t be happier with it. And I hope that you can use my experience to help you in your search. Remember, choosing the right major starts with you. Good Luck!
