Undecided Major? Here’s Why That’s OK

If you’re still in your college search or just at the start of your college career, you may feel you have to already know what you want to major in or what career you want to pursue. But the truth is, you have time to consider options before you decide. 

You’re not alone in your uncertainty. A survey released in 2019 by Ellucian, the world’s leading provider of software and services built to power higher education, showed that 51% of students are unsure about their career path when they enroll in college. One out of three students is unsure about which major aligns with their chosen career path, and two-thirds of students feel overwhelmed with the process of selecting a major.

College is a time to explore your strengths and passions. Luckily, Meredith College has plenty of resources to help you do so. Whether it’s deciding what classes to take, what major best suits you, or what career you should pursue, Meredith will assist you every step of the way. Here are some of the ways we will help.

StrongPoints®

At Meredith, we have a unique advising and personal coaching model that begins right when you start orientation and is provided at no cost to you. StrongPoints helps identify your strengths, and you’ll develop those strengths throughout your four years at Meredith. Your strengths will shape your academic goals, experimental involvement, financial planning, and career choice.

StrongPoints is designed to result in

• Increased likelihood of academic and professional success
• Increased self-confidence
• Greater likelihood of completing a degree on time
• Development of an academic portfolio to help secure employment or admission to graduate or professional school
• Stronger connections with faculty and staff
• Confidence in creating a functional plan with concrete priorities, goals, and strategies for lifelong success.

Learn more about StrongPoints.

Success Center

Every Meredith student has access to the Student Success Center (SSC). The SSC is committed to maintaining a culture of care and support for all students. The Center provides advising, success coaching, peer tutoring, and mentoring.

Success Coach

Your Success Coach will 

• Connect you with essential services that provide specific support
• Use a strengths-based advising and personal coaching approach, guided by Meredith’s StrongPoints
• Help you overcome obstacles
• Provide you with general information and serve as a mentor and confidant.

Success Coaching has been proven to have a positive impact on

• Retention and graduation rates
• Students’ GPAs
• Time management
• Study skills
• Self-awareness
• Goal-setting and achievement

Learn more about Success Coaches.

Academic Advising

At Meredith, we have academic advisors for first-year, transfer, and current students. Academic advising encourages you to reflect on your skills, values, and interests to make academic decisions. You’ll achieve your goals through academic counseling, workshops, courses, events, and experiential opportunities.

We also offer faculty advising, which plays a critical role in guiding you through your academic journey. 

Faculty Advising

All faculty advisors are trained to work with students, even those who don’t yet know what major they want to pursue. Your faculty advisor will help you navigate your interests, and once you do select a major, you’ll be assigned an advisor within your program.

Your faculty advisor will

• Assist you in your consideration and clarification of educational goals
• Assist you in developing a plan of study consistent with your goals and objectives
• Provide you with accurate information and is available for discussions
• Provide you with knowledge about programs, resources, policies, and procedures
• Assist you in the evaluation and re-evaluation of progress toward established goals and educational plans
• Make referrals to resources within and outside of the college as appropriate

Learn more about Academic Advising.

Career Planning

Being undecided about your career interests is fine – because that’s where the Office of Career Planning steps in. Career planning begins during your first year and they offer you assistance in selecting a major, assessing your skills and talents, securing internships, and participating in mock interviews.

Learn more about the Office of Career Planning.

College is an exciting time, and we want you to enjoy your experience and flourish during your time at Meredith. We’re here with you every step of the way!