Gray, Darrell. (2009). Costs of Indecision in Choosing a College Major

”No wind serves him who addresses his voyage to no certain port.” This quote is very true, especially when applied to the college experience. Every school year, college freshmen show up to school with no idea of what they want to become or possessing any future plans. Other freshmen show up with a definite career and major in mind but find themselves changing majors by the second semester. This indecision is not a problem early on, but if it goes on too long it can end up negatively affecting the student.

Many people can mistake being undecided for being indecisive. These can be two totally different things. Being undecided can stem from lack of knowledge of different careers. For example, it wouldn’t be smart to major in Athletic Training if you knew nothing about it. Going blindly into any major will most likely result in a change to another major. On the other hand, students who are indecisive or apprehensive about choosing a major may have deeper issues with decision making. They may always have problems making decisions and sticking to them, even when they have enough information. Being undecided may interfere with college decision making, but indecisiveness can cause other problems.

Being uncertain about a college major can really cost in the long run. MSNBC.com writer Gayle B. Ronan states, “With tuition averaging $13,833 a year at public universities, indecisiveness can drain college savings accounts as students restart course sequences or transfer schools — losing credits in the process.” With these types of prices, most people cannot afford to be in school that long, especially in this economy. Perhaps these prices could be a deciding factor on whether or not a college student drops out of school. This problem may not only cost money, but also time. All these different courses for different majors can cause students to be in school for excessive amounts of time. These students could possibly be in college for six years trying to graduate. “Roughly 40 percent of those who start a four-year degree program still have not earned one after year six.”, states Gayle B. Ronan. All this unnecessary stress can be avoided by having a solid plan for success.

Preventive steps can be taken to avoid all these unnecessary problems. Students could begin by looking at hobbies. For students who are still in high school, a trip to the guidance counselor could be a great help. They can take a look at these hobbies and suggest certain careers that could be related. They can also provide students with valuable materials to help them make career choices. Other things to take in consideration are personal strengths and weaknesses. Students who excel in a certain subjects might major in that field. Students should also consider what type of environment they would be interested in working in. Outdoors, or in an office? Interacting with others, or secluded? Hands-on, or not? These all should be taken into consideration. The next step is to find out more about related. These can easily be found with a search of the Internet. That search will give descriptions of different careers in many fields. Something that could really help is to shadow someone who is already in the profession. This first-hand view will show exactly what is involved in the career in a day-to-day basis. This can help the person determine whether or not a career in that field will be of interest. With a selection of careers narrowed down, a major would be a lot easier to declare. If a major cannot be decided on before the student reaches college, advisors can be a big help. Also, most colleges have student centers where career help can be found. Students don’t have to worry too much about not having a major because there a so many ways to find one.

Choosing a college major can be a life-changing decision. It can be the difference between hating a job and enjoying a successful career. People say that it isn’t work if it’s enjoyable. Students should enter college with an idea of what interests them. They may take their time choosing the right major, but taking too long could be detrimental. A famous quote of Aneurin Bevan states,” We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road. They get run over.” Though it won’t be as fatal as the quote, college students who are indecisive in choosing a major will no doubt face some negative consequences.