Frequently Asked Questions
...about college as an undecided student
Is it OK to be undecided?
Approximately
1/3 of all students begin college as undecided students, and on
average, students change their major three times. It's OK to be
undecided or to explore other majors besides your original choice. One
of your college goals is to choose a major that suits your interests,
abilities and values; and you may change your mind, perhaps more than
once. Ohio University offers many courses and majors that you may not
have heard about or investigated in high school, at a regional campus,
or at a previous college or university.
There
are many resources on campus to help you through the step-by-step
process of selecting a major, including this website. It takes time to
complete these steps so that you can make a well-considered selection
of a major. We recommend that you begin as soon possible to work
through these steps. While it is OK to be undecided when you begin
college, it is not OK to remain undecided; it is difficult to stay
motivated when you don't have a goal toward which you're working.
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When should I declare my major?
If
you know a lot about the major that you want and about how well that
major matches up with your interests, abilities and values, then you
can declare the major right away. However, approximately two of every
three students change their majors at least once during their academic
careers. Many students declare their major without information about
what they will be studying, the many majors offered at Ohio University, or
the caree opportunities for various majors. As these things become
clearer, students often reconsider their decisions. If they change
majors, they may find that a portion of their previous coursework does
not meet graduation requirements in their new major. More students
delay their graduation for this reason than because they began their
academic careers as undecided students.
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If I don't have a major, what classes do I take during my first year?
All students must complete university-wide General Education requirements.
This set of courses provides broad exposure to various areas of
knowledge and can aid in exploring majors. Tier II requirements allow
students to choose from a variety of courses that relate to many
different majors. In addition to the coursework in Tier I and II, we
encourage students to enroll in courses that enhance skills (University College offers courses in college reading skills, using computers, and learning strategies),
meet college requirements for majors they are considering, or aid in
the major exploration process (UC 115: The Univerisity Experience, EDCE
201: Career & Life Planning).
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Can I get into classes if I am not in a major?
Most 100
and 200 level courses which freshmen and sophomores primarily take are
open to all students. Introductory courses have no prerequisites (or
requirements of prior coursework). With few exceptions, until you reach
upper level (300 and 400 numbered) courses, your priority for entry
into courses is based on the number of credit hours you have earned;
major has no bearing.
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After I have chosen a major, how do I declare it?
With
most majors, students can declare their intent to major at the
beginning of any academic term. Some majors and colleges, however, have
special admissions standards, or specific application deadlines. See www.ohio.edu/advising/major.cfm,
our website on changing majors, which contains this information in
detail. Most exploratory students declare a major between the end of
their freshman and the end of their sophomore years.
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How long can I stay in University College as an undecided student?
All University College
students are required to declare a major by the time they have earned
75 credit hours (mid-sophomore year). Beyond 75 earned hours, students
may continue in the college only with an approved plan for moving into
a major.
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Any final advice?
The
best advice that we can give incoming students, whether they have
declared a major or not, is to maintain regular contact with their
advisor.
The advisor is a valuable source of information and support. Meeting
with an advisor will ensure that you are scheduling appropriate
coursework; are aware of campus resources; and can discuss academic and
other issues with an interested, concerned professional.
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