When do I select a major?

You can decide on a major anytime you reach a decision. Many students enter college, not knowing what they major in and many will change their mind once, twice, even more times before they find the right choice. Some universities actually discourage premature selection of major and ask that you wait until the sophomore year to make this choice. Many universities require that you complete a core set of courses before you take courses in a major, so waiting is not a always a problem. There is, also, nothing wrong with changing your mind, but you should be aware that some majors are highly prescriptive of the courses you need to take. For instance, engineering majors specify exactly what you need to take in each semester. Consequently, some courses you take while pursuing other majors may not count toward your final major, thereby extending the time and cost of completing your education. If you have thoughts about which major you would like, start taking courses in that field to try out your hunch. It may confirm your feelings or it may convince you that this field is a mistake for you. Almost all majors have sequences of courses in which some courses are prerequisites for others. Delaying too long, may make it impossible to graduate on time.

Some people - high school counselors, your parents, university-wide academic advisors, for example, are completely neutral in their recommendations. Others, faculty in a discipline or advisors for a particular college within a university may consciously or unconsciously, try to encourage you to consider a major because it benefits they department or college to have more majors, rather than that it is best for you. Contact these people when you have already decided to consider their programs.