Well, here we are again. It’s that time of year as the spring semester begins for many college students. All kinds of students, whether they are in STEM, English, humanities, or art, are all trying to get involved around campus while maintaining their GPAs. And then there are the undeclared folks who are just trying their best to immerse themselves within the college experience and find their identity. But can you blame them for being undeclared? After all, committing to a major can be difficult and a life changing decision. There is a reason why many schools give you the option to select “undeclared” if you’re not sure about what you want to do, so is it really something that is out of the norm? Can it negatively affect your college apps? If you want to know the answer to these questions, keep reading to find out.
What Does It Really Mean?
Going undeclared is not a negative thing. So I ask you guys before reading the rest of the blog to avoid frowning upon people who decide to go undeclared or even think negatively about yourself if you happen to be undeclared at your college. The reality is that most college students do not declare their major till their 2nd year, even though they are enrolled in their institutions under a certain major or program. They still have the liberty to always test the waters and explore different majors before finally deciding on the track that they want to pursue. So, what makes undeclared folks any different? Undeclared, is a path that students choose who are not sure of what major or discipline they want to pursue during their transition from high school to college. In this path, you would be able to take a variety of courses in different subject areas to help you find your interests and passion. It is important to keep in mind that “undeclared” is not a major and no one can get through all 4 years of college by being undeclared. At some point, you are going to have to choose your path and if you still are confused then your advisor may just have to pick one for you.
Benefits vs Disadvantages
So the million-dollar question every student wants to know the answer to is if it looks bad to apply as an undeclared on your college application compared to just switching majors later. Well, the only way to answer this is by analyzing the pros and cons. Applying as an undeclared can certainly be a good thing, as many admission counselors know that choosing a major right out of high school can be daunting since it can be a life-changing decision that shapes your future. It shows honesty in the applicant to choose this path and admissions officers love and respect this quality. Also, choosing a major is only one slice of the large pie. There are still so many more important factors like GPA, extracurriculars, and test scores that determine your admission so applying as an undeclared is not the end of the world. However, going undeclared can also be a bad thing if it doesn’t match up with the rest of your application. If your essays or extracurriculars point to a major theme or passion but you decided to still apply as an undeclared it might show that you are indecisive and lack commitment which can make you seem like a weak applicant. Not to mention, some schools place a set of policies and rules that one must follow to pursue that major or be part of that program. These policies or rules may require a student to enroll or commit to the program as a freshman so going undeclared could place a limit on the number of majors that you could choose from.
The Final Verdict
The big takeaway is that "undeclared" is simply a placeholder that incoming college students use to explore a wide range of subjects to help them decide on a major when they feel ready. Is it necessarily bad to be undeclared as a college student? To be honest, there is no definitive answer to this question. Even after analyzing the pros and cons, we come to realize that there are just so many factors to consider. The most important thing to remember is that regardless of what you came into college as, you always have the freedom to explore and change majors. So instead of panicking about being undeclared, you should focus your energy on way more important aspects of your life and use your experiences to help kindle your interests and passions.
- By Akash Sureshkumar
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