| So you're an incoming freshman or an underclassman | | | | something relevant to your field of study. To |
| who is still undecided and the question everyone asks | | | | accompany my sport management degree, I earned |
| you "What's your major?" is getting on your last | | | | a business management minor. Both compliment each |
| nerves. I've heard it a thousand times, and trust me, | | | | other. Do not get a computer science bachelor's and |
| the only question you will hate being asked more | | | | an entomology minor. They are completely irrelevant |
| than "What's your major?" is "What do you want to | | | | to each other and won't be impressive on your |
| do after graduation?". But we'll get into the | | | | resume (unless you have a true love for bugs, then |
| graduation question some other day. For now let's | | | | stick to something relevant). The same goes with |
| concentrate on choosing your major.I went to | | | | double majoring. Don't double major just for bragging |
| freshman orientation at the University of Florida not | | | | rights. It will be a big waste of time. If you love the |
| knowing what I wanted to do with my life (and | | | | challenge, love studying, and hard work then explore |
| honestly, 6 months after graduation and working in | | | | the option of getting a second degree. Do not go |
| the real world, I still don't know the answer). Like | | | | straight into orientation with that go go attitude of |
| many of you, I felt pressure to give the advisors an | | | | "Oh my god I'm going to be a double major in |
| answer. I told them Civil Engineering. Bad mistake on | | | | bimolecular chemistry and nuclear microbiology and |
| my part. Never Never Never pick engineering as your | | | | I'm going to take all honors courses so I can |
| major unless you are dead sold on it. I was stupid | | | | graduate in two and a half years". It doesn't work |
| and signed up for a year's worth of Calculus and | | | | like that, and you won't make it unless your name is |
| Chemistry.But the good thing about college and | | | | Doogie Howser. Wait a semester or two before |
| choosing your major is that you can always change it. | | | | declaring a second major.Tip #1. Don't pick your |
| You can change your major seven times if you want. | | | | major because it's what your mother or father do.Tip |
| I only changed my major twice, which is probably | | | | #2. If you are unsure at orientation, don't feel |
| about normal. What is not normal is picking a major | | | | pressured into choosing a major right away. It's ok to |
| and sticking to it. You are in the vast minority if you | | | | be undeclared for a semester or two.Tip #3. Be |
| go all four years with the major you picked at | | | | happy with your degree. If you hate the classes you |
| orientation, but kudos to you for sticking with it.Try | | | | are in, think about making a change.Tip #4. Don't |
| to evaluate what you like and enjoy doing. If you | | | | declare a second major right away.Tip #5. Pick a |
| love computers, research your school's computer | | | | minor that compliments your major.Tip #6. Pick a |
| science degrees. If your passion is in sports, pursue a | | | | major in a field of study you enjoy. If you enjoy |
| sport management degree (that's what I did). If you | | | | reading books about Art, then look into being an Art |
| love kids, by all means declare yourself an education | | | | History major. If Art bores you to death, don't be an |
| major. But do not feel that you are stuck with it. | | | | Art major.Tip #7. Take advantage of your school's |
| Explore the programs and keep your options | | | | career resource center. (I never did, and boy did I |
| open.Choosing a major does not necessarily mean | | | | regret it when it took me 4 months to find a job).If |
| you will land a job in that field. I earned a Bachelor's in | | | | you have any comments or questions, please feel |
| Sport Management and here I am building a web | | | | free to email me at or visit my website at am a |
| page and writing articles about college life. Your | | | | recent graduate of the University of Florida. I |
| degree does not limit you career opportunities. Unless | | | | currently work full-time, but it is my desire to help |
| you choose a very specific degree, like software | | | | incoming and current college students with all aspects |
| engineering or accounting, your career opportunities | | | | in their lives. My goal is to advise students not to |
| are very open. Even with specific degrees you can | | | | make the mistakes I did and to help give them a |
| find jobs in areas unrelated.When it comes to picking | | | | better college experience. |
| a minor or going after a second degree, try to pick | | | | |