First year students are not required to declare a major. By their second semester at the College, however, some first year students are ready to choose a major and they are welcome to do so. But normally students declare a major by the end of their sophomore year. Here are some thoughts and ideas to consider as you ponder this decision.
Passionate interest or curiosity about a subject motivates you to do your best work and keeps you engaged when the course material and assignments get more difficult. Strong interest also helps you to connect your other experiences, including the work you do in required courses, to the subject matter you're passionate about.
And think creatively about how to follow your passion. If you're curious about why people do what they do, maybe you're thinking about majoring in psychology. But you can pursue that interest in a sociology or history major, too. If you're interested in the past, you'll probably consider a history major. But you can also pursue that interest in anthropology. If you're interested in human biology, you're probably thinking about majoring in biology. But you also learn a lot about human biology as a psychology major. And don't overlook interdisciplinary programs, such as environmental studies, humanities, and American studies, where you can pursue your interests from a variety of perspectives or pursue several related interests.
Assess your intellectual and personal strengths honestly and choose a major that requires your strengths. Maybe you have a knack for writing, or are particularly good at math, or you're good at research, or you're very creative. The staff at the Center for Career Development can help you assess your strengths and talents; they have several interesting tools you can use to get a better sense of what you're good at.
For example, creativity is a plus in the arts, but it's also an advantage in the sciences, for instance, in designing good experiments. If you love to read and have a strong sense of narrative, you may be considering an English major. But those qualities are also strengths in the study of history. If you're good at math, you can consider a math major. But in majors like business management, economics, physics, or computer science, your math skills will also be an advantage. Maybe a double major is the best way for you to develop all of your strengths and talents.
Most of the College's minors can complement any major. A minor gives you a different perspective on your major area, an opportunity to develop skills not emphasized in your major, and a chance to develop career-related skills. With a minor you can also pursue something you're interested in or truly love, but don't want to make a career focus.
Majoring in the humanities—English, philosophy, art, music, or a foreign language? Consider a minor in business. Majoring in business? Consider a minor in a foreign language, sociology, or history. Majoring in math? Consider a minor in physics, earth and planetary science, or music. Majoring in a natural science—biology, chemistry, physics, or environmental studies? Consider a minor in philosophy. Majoring in history or political science? Consider a minor in black studies or gender studies. You get the idea.
Choose your major and then consider careers that require the knowledge and skills you will develop in your major and find out how to prepare for those careers. Whether you major in anthropology, music, chemistry, philosophy, or history, there are things you can do—even in your first year—to prepare for the job market. Consider internships where you can put your knowledge and skills to use, study abroad or other international experiences, and extra-curricular activities where you can develop marketable skills, especially leadership skills. Talk to everyone you know in careers you're interested in and ask them about what they do and how they got there.
Whether you want to go to graduate or professional school right after college or you plan to go back to school after working for a couple of years, find out now what you need to do to prepare. Meet with pre-professional advisors, such as Dr Verville for pre-medical and pre-health care education or Dr Lange for pre-law. Talk to professors in the field you might pursue in grad school; ask them what are the best programs for your interests and what you should do as an undergraduate to prepare.
Also consider the College's dual degree programs in nursing, pharmacy, or engineering, or exchanges like the Maryland Institute College of Art.
No worries—think back over the courses you've taken so far and consider what you found most interesting in those courses. Ask your professors to suggest courses or other opportunities where you can pursue those interests. Continue taking courses to fulfill graduation requirements; they are further opportunities to discover your interests and talents. And consider putting together a special major, based on your interests, if you feel that the College's majors don't address your interests in the way you want to pursue them. Go to http://catalog.washcoll.edu/08_academic.php and click on "The Major" for details about constructing a special major. You have another year before you must declare a major, so make the most of it!
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