College choices

What type of school is best for me? I'm the first in my family and I don't know what my major will be or what I might be interested in.

I want to go far, but not too far away from home. What should I think about when trying to pick a school? Should I stick around in community college first?

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Permalink Reply by Laurel Brock on November 9, 2009 at 6:33pm

I was first in my family too. I picked my school because it was still pretty small (it's not now!) and I could talk to the professors easily. If you might feel lost, choose a place where you can get help and not just be a number.

If you don't know what major you want, you want a school that offers several directions you can grow into BUT doesn't make you choose too soon. I love Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, for example, but since you must declare your major as a Freshman, it's best for kids who know what they want to do and therefor what they need to major in.

Students who want time to explore different areas before they choose are often happy at "liberal arts" colleges (many in California, including Occidental, Whittier, St. Mary's of CA, and lots more.) In these schools, exploring for the first two years is the norm. In fact, it's often required. Then at the beginnning of your Junior year, you choose a major and most of your classes in your last 2 years will be in that field.

Even then, you're not locked in. I started my Junior year as a Chemistry major with a History minor (meaning I planned to take most of my classes in Chem, some in History, and maybe just a few in other areas to complete graduation requirements.) I was griping in Chem lab about the smells and a friend said "You know, when you're out working in the real world, these chemicals will still smell." I changed my major that very day! But all I did was switch my major to History, my minor to Chemistry, and get a new major advisor. I didn't lose one credit or cause any delay in graduating because, thanks to that friend, I made the change in time!

The community college path actually requires you to start work in your major sooner, in your Frosh & Sophomore years. The 4-year school you'll transfer to and finish at wants you to have some experience in that field before they accept you into that major. Consider both paths - just don't assume that community college is the best place for an undecided student.