Choosing your major can be the most stressful decision in college


choosing_your_major
Honors academic advisor Ken Rumsey assists Stanwood sophomore Alicia Weeks in creating a four-year academic plan on Wednesday in Ken

As a college student, chances are you will be asked at least once a day this reoccurring question: "What’s your major?"

The answer provided for this question either solidifies the choice each time, or evokes doubt and stress. Signing a major in college is one of the biggest decisions of a students’ college education.

One of the jobs of Honors Advisor Ken Rumsey has is to work with as they decide.

“I think students are aware of the requirements for certain majors, degrees and possibly grad school,” Rumsey said. “And they realize that there’s a lot that needs to be accomplished, and if they don’t make that decision soon then they’re ‘behind.’”

Julianne DeMarco relates to feeling overwhelmed by picking a major. The Brighton sophomore felt pressured by different factors like her family and peers to make a choice right when she entered college as a freshman. She decided on communication disorders a month before her freshman year, then decided against it after her first semester on campus.

Despite her misgivings about being undecided, DeMarco was receiving encouragement on ruling out a major in communication disorders. She recalled some input she received at the time: “It’s good you’re figuring out this now instead of wasting all of that money your senior year and having to realize that you don’t like what you’re going to major in.”

After finally receiving positive encouragement on one of her decisions pertaining to her education, she read the results of her interest survey and ‘speech pathology’ was number two on the list of her suggested jobs.

After initial aggravation, DeMarco considered the extensive care she took to filling out the career survey, deciding it was time to give communication disorders another shot.

“When I decided a second time on my major it really felt like my choice instead of someone else’s,” she said.

Advisor Rumsey acknowledges the importance of additional steps students should take aside from seeing an adviser. He sends students to Career Services, but points out students should really go beyond that and talk to professionals in their area of interest, job shadow or even get a part-time job related to a profession they are curious about pursuing to get a real feel for their potential major and career path.

Rumsey recognizes the struggle of choosing a potential career before being qualified to be on the workforce and see whether it is a good fit. He explains that signing a major is not as intimidating as students think it is, and can only help the decision-making process.

“Something I would always encourage students to do is not be afraid of signing a major or minor,” Rumsey said. “It doesn’t lock you into anything and it can only give you more information about what you’re potentially planning to do. You can find out about elective courses, and you can talk to a Major Advisor about grad school options and professional options.”

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About Kate Carlson

Editor-in-Chief Kate Carlson is a senior from Lapeer who is majoring in journalism with a minor in ...

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