The Agony of Choosing

In this Issue: today we talk about decision-making by students and how to support them if they have difficulty choosing

Because fall course registration is about to begin, many of our students’ minds are on planning for the fall (and beyond). They may be asking questions like:

– Which classes do I want [at which times, and with which professors]?

– I thought my major was going to be [INSERT], but I am not sure anymore, so now what do I do?”

– I need to declare a major next semester and I have no idea which one to pick.  Aack!

– I want to go abroad, and there are so many places I might like to go. Should I go to one where I already speak the language? Where I can take some courses that will count towards my Divisional requirements/my major?

These and other questions are weighing heavily on some of our students as registration nears. For some of our students, making these kinds of choices is easy; they have a clear idea of major/courses/abroad possibilities and they have been marching steadily toward that destination. For others, they may be having more difficulty, especially when they are trying to choose between a couple of courses (or potential majors) they think they might like. For those students, I call it “the agony of choosing” – they are afraid to pick one over the other for fear they are making a wrong choice.

Here’s what I typically tell students in those situations.

Which classes do I want: This is where a student needs to do some self examination and some homework. Each course has a description in the Undergraduate Bulletin that says in brief what the course will cover. They can also look at the individual faculty member’s or department web page to see if there is additional information about that course or professor that resonates with them.  If it excites you or piques your interest, go for it.  If not, look for something else.

I thought my major was going to be X and now I am not so sure: A tough issue, because there can be many layers of complexity here. For a student who had always expected to be a doctor, what do they do if they find out they hate chemistry? Or maybe they already told family and friends they wanted to be a doctor, and fear telling them they don’t want to do it anymore.

There are also many roads to get to a career that satisfies you. You don’t have to be a doctor to work in a health profession (you could be involved in other areas of patient care, or counseling, etc.), just as you don’t have to go to the undergrad business school to end up with a career in business, etc.

This is where parents/families can be immensely helpful by telling their student that YOU DON’T CARE if they are an X major; you just want them to choose whatever makes them happy and where they feel comfortable. Sometimes it takes that blessing or absolution from parents and loved ones to allow a student to be comfortable letting go of a preimagined academic or career path.  

Deciding between two departments they may wish to major in: I typically ask the student “If you’ve sampled classes in both departments, which classes have you enjoyed more? Don’t think about which one you think is more marketable or popular etc. – but which one do you think you could really be interested in and invested in?” If it is a toss up, I typically recommend trying to take one of each course in those departments to kick the tires a little more. Normally when you have a little more exposure to a subject, the answer might show itself.

So often, students are worried that their choice of major will predestine them (or doom them) only to certain careers or paths in life. And as the Office of Personal and Career Development frequently tells students, “selecting a major is not the same as choosing a career.” They have some great advice on this page – and these OPCD resources can be a great starting place for your Deacs to help think through their choice of major.

Where to go abroad? in what language? in my major: This is an area where students might wish to lean on the resources provided by the Global Programs and Studies office. Their Study Abroad Advisors can help students think through their options, and they have a greater idea of how different academic departments count credit toward majors, etc.

Families, if your Deac is anxious about any of these things, reassure them that you are in their corner and support their choices. Sometimes hearing that from mom or dad or a close family member is the thing they most need to hear. Let your student make their own choices, and affirm them.  

If they hear those kinds of messages of support from you, perhaps that will take a little bit of the agony out of choosing.