Not Sure What You'll Study in College?

So you haven't decided what you'll study in college? Join the club! Plenty of college students start out undecided about their courses of study, and many more who thought they had decided change their minds over the course of their college careers. So don't sweat it. Hope College encourages students to declare a "major" (a focused, in-depth study of one academic area) by the end of their sophomore years, but chances are good that that's a long way off for you. At a liberal arts college like Hope, you'll be studying many fields through your core courses, so you can experiment with a number of choices before making up your mind.

You'll also be enrolled in a First-Year Seminar, a course that encourages you to consider where you'll go in your college career. Your First-Year Seminar Professor will also be your advisor until you declare a major. This advisor will help you select your future classes and discuss your academic plans. If you want to find out about a specific major, you can talk to professors in that department. A special Career Services office can provide tests, career counseling, and help with snagging your first job. Visit Career Services website to see what you can do with various majors.

So start your investigation now! It's especially smart to see the whole range of programs a prospective college offers when you aren't sure of your intended major--you may wind up in the sciences, but then again you could discover your love for theatre, or your talent for statistics leads you in unexpected directions. You need strong departments in the many areas that may be of interest to you. Fortunately, Hope College offers many opportunities and consistent academic strength across the board: it's a Phi Beta Kappa College, which means it has been recognized by a national organization for its excellent academic program (it's one of only 7% of colleges and universities nationwide to receive this honor). As a prospective student, you'll want to investigate Hope's strong academic offerings in several ways:

• Check out several academic department websites in a number of areas that interest you.
  
• Take a look at Professional Programs "career" sites, such as Pre-Law, Pre-Med, Dentistry, or Accounting. They'll give you a better idea of what professionals in those fields tend to study in college. That might suggest some academic departments for you to investigate.
  
• See what Hope offers in extracurricular activities that might appeal to you, regardless of your major. Even if you don't intend to major in music or kinesiology, you'll want to know if you can take private trumpet lessons or join an intramural basketball team as part of your college experience.
  
• Visit campus, attend some classes, and interview a professor in a field that interests you. Mention that you're undecided about a major, and test your options. An admissions representative can answer your questions about matching your high school strengths and interests to college programs.

Finally, remember that Hope offers composite majors, in-depth study programs that allow you to combine 2-3 department majors into one with fewer required credits than a double or triple major.