Undecided

Unlike nearly 30 percent of college students who change majors at least once before graduation, you have a unique opportunity to make a well-informed decision. You can explore your interests, tap into your God-given talents, and research your options to decide on the best academic major match for you—a decision that is more likely to “stick.”

Yes! Unless you plan to pursue a Nursing major, every other major can be completed if you decide in your second year. You’ll just focus on taking your core (general education) classes in the first year. If you want to become a teacher or social worker, you’d want to start the education or social work major as you start your second year. Otherwise, there’s even less pressure to decide.

The good news is that you don’t have to decide this right away. Try taking courses in a couple of majors that you are considering. If you like the course material, that’s a good sign that you’d like that major. “Prototyping” (trying small experiments to get a taste of something) is the best way to move forward.

Our Center for Student Success is always here for you. They will assign you to an academic adviser who will meet with you and review your PathwayU results. PathwayU is an excellent, free career planning tool that matches your career interests, personality, values, and preferences to existing occupational roles (jobs). Our undecided advisers are knowledgeable about every major and will help you navigate your way to a great major that fits you. Each fall we hold a Calling and Career Fair that introduces first-year students to all majors and minors at Malone. You’ll have the chance to ask professors in any major about their programs. The best way to learn is to talk to people.

Education, nursing, and social work are programs that lead directly to State of Ohio licenses that are required if you want to become a teacher, nurse, or social worker. Virtually any other job out there does not demand any specific major. Employers care little about what you majored in, but a lot about what specific skills and experiences and character you bring to their workplace. Focus on what you do during college rather than declaring the exact right major. Even a degree in Education, Nursing, and Social Work is not a ticket to a job. You have to do the work during college to prove to employers that you are ready. We require all students to complete internships or other hands-on learning experiences for this very reason.

Fields such as law, medicine, physical or occupational therapy, and counseling do require additional, graduate-level education. But none of these fields requires a “pre” (-law, -med, -PT, -OT, or -Counseling) major. All but law school will require you to complete a list of prerequisite courses, and you can major in anything as long as you take those classes.

You shouldn’t ignore those things, and most parents are concerned about this for good reasons. A college degree is a major investment, and we all want a good return on that investment. But many people who go into a field solely for money or prestige or security lose their motivation over time. The ideal, which our undecided advisers will help you seek, is a professional role that is personally fulfilling, that helps others, and that offers reasonable pay and benefits. We want you to find your vocation in your career and your whole life.