UMass is no doubt a huge institution, hosting over 24,000 undergraduate students and over 100 majors to decide from. It is easy to feel lost in such an environment, where seemingly every other student has their entire life and career paved out the minute they arrive on campus. SBS as a college within the university offers 13 undergraduate programs, which narrows the pool down a bit but is still incredibly daunting to incoming freshman and sophomores hitting their
mid-year declaration requirement. One of the factors that drew me to this school in the first place was the offering of an “exploratory track”, where I, an overwhelmed freshman, could truly begin to grasp what college and the professional world had to offer in regards to material, rigor, and lifestyle.
The entire purpose of the exploratory track is to provide new students with the opportunity to discover and explore their interests before committing to a major, which is a great opportunity to branch out, as you never know what might interest you. As a freshman, I was able to take classes in economics, journalism, anthropology, sociology, and communication, which not only solidified my purpose and interest in what SBS had to offer, but really allowed me to reach a breadth of study that I would not have otherwise, had I committed to a major upon entering college. Not knowing what you want to study and essentially how you want to spend your working life is not embarrassing and is a great option to decide what you do and don’t like academically. In my personal experience on the exploratory track, there are a few ways I decided what major I would ultimately settle on, and because of these tips, I feel content with my decision, as well as grateful for the classes that I took that don’t even go toward my major.
Although SBS disciplines zero in on understanding human behavior, societies, and institutions, some majors may be more math/science-heavy than others. Before deciding on a major, it can be helpful to look at the requirements even for higher level classes you have to take further down the line, to ensure that you are not committing to a major that does not align with your wants and needs. Stay in touch with your ideal course work/type and decide what types of classes will be within your academic ability in comparison to the classes offered and required within a major you are interested in pursuing.
Another important and helpful way to explore different classes and majors is to take an introductory level class to see how you feel about the content. It is always recommended to have at least one introductory-level class under your belt before declaring a major in that discipline, however, this can sometimes feel like a waste of time and money when it isn’t guaranteed that the class will go toward major requirements, should you not end up declaring it. To alleviate this, it can be helpful to find classes that also fulfill a gen-ed requirement. For example, some lower level sociology courses also fulfill DU requirements, some anthropology classes are also a DG, and many other options. Do not avoid a class you may be interested in because you are scared it will be a waste of time!
College is the time to explore, ask questions, make mistakes, and avoid regrets, and as always, talk to a peer advisor if you are unsure! We are a great resource for this type of exploration and advice, and can help you decide where the best fit for you is.
