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> Undecided About Your Major?
Undecided About Your Major?
Welcome to the Club.
A world of possibilities.
Not every student who comes to Hollins knows what she wants to major in. In fact, most don’t. If that describes you, then you’re in good company. After all, the kind of liberal arts education Hollins offers is designed to allow you to try your hand at a number of disciplines before you decide what to specialize in. Since you don’t have to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year, you have plenty of time to shop around.
What you’ll get during your four years at Hollins is an education as individual as you are. An education you shape, with guidance from an experienced faculty advisor. An education that not only prepares you for the world of work, but also for a life of meaning and purpose.
So don’t be worried if you haven’t already planned out your future. At Hollins, you’ll embark on an educational adventure that will open up a world of possibilities.
A liberal arts education prepares students for success in any career field.
In addition to the major you eventually declare, you’ll take a variety of general education courses that stress breadth and depth across the curriculum. (At Hollins, we call the general education program Education through Skills and Perspectives, or ESP.) These courses allow you to try out a variety of disciplines, which will help you decide on what you want to major in.
Taken together, these general courses and the courses in your major make up what’s called a liberal arts education. Liberal arts skills are both transferable and functional. In other words, you’ll find that you can apply them to pretty much every field, discipline, and profession you encounter in your working life.
In fact, when employers are asked what skills and competencies they value most in college and university applicants, the list always includes skills that are acquired through a liberal arts education:
- Excellent communication skills (including writing and speaking)
- Leadership and organizational skills
- Ability to solve problems creatively
- Analytical competencies
- Quantitative and research proficiencies
- Logical decision-making abilities
How to select the major that’s right for you.
The number-one rule, according to Off to College magazine, is to choose a major that matches who you are and what you want.
Ask yourself these questions when evaluating a specific major.
- Is this a field I will enjoy for its own intrinsic value?
- Is this a field in which I expect to perform well?
- Do I like and respect most of the faculty members in this department?
- Am I keeping my options open to other departments?
- Do I seek out other students or faculty in this department for informal discussions?
- Am I willing to get an advanced degree if necessary to succeed in this field?
Other tips for choosing a major.
- Network with members of faculty in departments that interest you.
- Seek the advice of your academic counselor.
- Use Hollins’ Career Development Center to help you find out more about your interests and personality. The center also has an extensive library to help you make the decision that’s right for you.
- Use Hollins’ Career Assistance Network to talk with Hollins graduates in career fields that interest you. Our alumnae can offer valuable information about their own experiences in selecting a major and about how they used their liberal arts skills in the working world.
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