Major Selection
Major Selection
Transcript
As you begin to think about your particular major, there are a couple of things you should consider. Most importantly, if you don't know right now what you want to major in, that's OK. College is the place to help you figure that out. There are hundreds of majors, so you may find more than one to be of interest. Now, for some of you who may be transfer applicants, you may already have a sophomore standing. Hopefully you already have a clear sense of your intended major.
As mentioned in an earlier section, it is important to realize some of the things you enjoy doing while you were in the military may not easily translate into a specific degree program. And again, that's OK. College is about considering your options and applying the skills you acquired in the military to your studies and enjoying the adventure of exploring new subject matters and different fields of study. As you take classes, you will probably find some you enjoy, perhaps even love.
If you're looking at a path like pre-med or pre-law, remember that those aren't actually majors. Those are specific programs that are there to help guide students toward acceptance into medical or law school. You'll still have to declare a major. While many students major in things that seem most clearly aligned with their ultimate goal, like biology or chemistry for a pre-med student, many times professional schools look for well-rounded students who have majored in other areas. So don't major in something just because you think that is what you're supposed to do.
We've talked about how many times people believe they have to have a certain major to get into a particular career field. For instance, some people claim that only a degree in economics can lead to a successful career in the finance industry, when in truth, many large financial corporations are looking to hire people who have a liberal arts education because they're able to think analytically and are also skilled in research and writing.
So as you sort through the type of major you want to declare, take a look at what opportunities there might be after you graduate from college. You can explore a variety of different programs through national comparison tools available online, and we've provided you the links to get you started. Remember though, that many of these reports and rankings can't give you a complete picture and there are other factors you need to think about.
While you're interested in a major or career path now, you might find after some study that it's not something you want to continue to pursue. Don't worry. You'll be able to switch and try something new. Since most of you are likely going to be transfer applicants, the following section will be very important to you even if you haven't been accepted to a four-year college yet, even more so if you'll be a sophomore and must declare a major out of the gate.
For those of you who will attend college as a true freshman, it will still be helpful to have in your toolkit. As you're exploring a particular major online, there are several things you should consider. One of the first is the importance of understanding the prerequisites for a major. You will most likely be considered a non-traditional student and will apply as a transfer applicant, so it is important to make sure you have taken all the prerequisites required for the particular major at the particular college or university you want to study.
For those of you who have had a chance to take classes either through tuition assistance or through a community college on or near an installation, hopefully you've been able to focus on general education courses such as English composition, college level math, languages, and physical and social sciences. All of these types of basic curriculum courses are more likely to be accepted by your transfer institution.
After completing your general education requirements, most students begin to focus on their major requirements. As you look at particular majors, you may find there are additional prerequisites you need. For example, if you are looking at an engineering major, you will most likely need calculus, physics, and chemistry at the time of transfer. It is probably not a good idea to pick a college only for its program in one major. Instead, consider colleges that offer a variety of options.
Take a look at whether or not you're able to pursue your major directly when you arrive at a college or university, or if you'll be required to be accepted into another school at the college or university once you've completed your first couple of years. For example, some business majors have to apply to the undergraduate business school after they've been accepted to the undergraduate college of a university.
If you can't be accepted into your preferred program directly, you need to understand what you would have to do to be accepted at a later date. Do some research so you understand these specific prerequisites. The syllabi for many courses are available online, and you can get a really good understanding of what courses you will be taking before you arrive.
Another interesting thing you can do is to check out the feedback on particular professors in a specific department. We've included a link to Rate My Professors, which is just one source of insight into the particular courses you might take, but always remember to be suspect when reviewing the comments on these sites. You can also gather information from university-sponsored student groups, or a local Student Veterans of America chapter.
As mentioned in an earlier section, it is important to realize some of the things you enjoy doing while you were in the military may not easily translate into a specific degree program. And again, that's OK. College is about considering your options and applying the skills you acquired in the military to your studies and enjoying the adventure of exploring new subject matters and different fields of study. As you take classes, you will probably find some you enjoy, perhaps even love.
If you're looking at a path like pre-med or pre-law, remember that those aren't actually majors. Those are specific programs that are there to help guide students toward acceptance into medical or law school. You'll still have to declare a major. While many students major in things that seem most clearly aligned with their ultimate goal, like biology or chemistry for a pre-med student, many times professional schools look for well-rounded students who have majored in other areas. So don't major in something just because you think that is what you're supposed to do.
We've talked about how many times people believe they have to have a certain major to get into a particular career field. For instance, some people claim that only a degree in economics can lead to a successful career in the finance industry, when in truth, many large financial corporations are looking to hire people who have a liberal arts education because they're able to think analytically and are also skilled in research and writing.
So as you sort through the type of major you want to declare, take a look at what opportunities there might be after you graduate from college. You can explore a variety of different programs through national comparison tools available online, and we've provided you the links to get you started. Remember though, that many of these reports and rankings can't give you a complete picture and there are other factors you need to think about.
While you're interested in a major or career path now, you might find after some study that it's not something you want to continue to pursue. Don't worry. You'll be able to switch and try something new. Since most of you are likely going to be transfer applicants, the following section will be very important to you even if you haven't been accepted to a four-year college yet, even more so if you'll be a sophomore and must declare a major out of the gate.
For those of you who will attend college as a true freshman, it will still be helpful to have in your toolkit. As you're exploring a particular major online, there are several things you should consider. One of the first is the importance of understanding the prerequisites for a major. You will most likely be considered a non-traditional student and will apply as a transfer applicant, so it is important to make sure you have taken all the prerequisites required for the particular major at the particular college or university you want to study.
For those of you who have had a chance to take classes either through tuition assistance or through a community college on or near an installation, hopefully you've been able to focus on general education courses such as English composition, college level math, languages, and physical and social sciences. All of these types of basic curriculum courses are more likely to be accepted by your transfer institution.
After completing your general education requirements, most students begin to focus on their major requirements. As you look at particular majors, you may find there are additional prerequisites you need. For example, if you are looking at an engineering major, you will most likely need calculus, physics, and chemistry at the time of transfer. It is probably not a good idea to pick a college only for its program in one major. Instead, consider colleges that offer a variety of options.
Take a look at whether or not you're able to pursue your major directly when you arrive at a college or university, or if you'll be required to be accepted into another school at the college or university once you've completed your first couple of years. For example, some business majors have to apply to the undergraduate business school after they've been accepted to the undergraduate college of a university.
If you can't be accepted into your preferred program directly, you need to understand what you would have to do to be accepted at a later date. Do some research so you understand these specific prerequisites. The syllabi for many courses are available online, and you can get a really good understanding of what courses you will be taking before you arrive.
Another interesting thing you can do is to check out the feedback on particular professors in a specific department. We've included a link to Rate My Professors, which is just one source of insight into the particular courses you might take, but always remember to be suspect when reviewing the comments on these sites. You can also gather information from university-sponsored student groups, or a local Student Veterans of America chapter.