I'M UNDECIDED!
Undecided? That's OK! We understand there is a lot of pressure from family and even friends (and, OK, you) to figure out what you want to major in and study professionally for the rest of your life. But it's quite normal to be undecided. Eventually, you will figure out what it is that you want to study. The beauty of an L&S major is that they are so versatile. You can still go to law school without having majored in political science, and you can still go to medical school if you majored in art history. It's all about finding your interests and doing well in school.
The following was answered by an L&S UAS Service peer mentor. If you have questions, you can also email them.
What if I am undecided in my major?
- It’s great to be undecided! You have many areas that are open to explore. Exploring many different courses and majors, is the best way to find where your interests truly lie.
- Many majors do not necessarily require you to start their course work until later in your college career. You will not fall behind, as long as you look into fulfilling some of your General Education requirements until you have made up your mind.
- Some UW-Madison majors that do require you to get started your freshman year so you can finish on time are education, engineering and Bachelor of Music (BM) majors. In areas such as biology or physical science, as well as any students looking into pre-med curriculum or the business program, you would do well to get started as soon as possible.
- Remember that many college students (approximately 75%) change their minds and/or majors at least once.
- Be aware of the fact that there are very few careers that require a specific major. Nursing, engineering, and education are a few examples. For most other things, you have a lot of flexibility in choosing a major, so why not pick one you prefer?