Undecided: an ambitious label that many college students are afraid to advertise. It's meant to cover all the bases and leave the proverbial doors as wide open as possible.
Over the years the undecided major has gotten a bad name it doesn't deserve, according to Senior Academic Adviser at Lia Hallett, a senior academic advisor with Student Advising Services (SAS).
"It's becoming more acceptable," Hallett said.
According to the SAS Web site 80 percent of first-year college students are undecided about their majors.
A common misconception is that the later students declare a major, the less likely they are to graduate on time. According to Hallett, students are encouraged to look into every possible option from the very beginning.
The biggest opposition facing undecided students is the overwhelming amount of false impressions surrounding the title, according to Hallett. She views any opportunity that SAS has to dispel myths about the undecided major as a good one.
Contrary to popular belief, being undecided can actually provide more opportunities for the future than declaring a major right away.
"Being able to choose your own classes is a definite advantage [of being undecided]," Hallett said.
Students are able to take several different types of classes to find out what fits them as opposed to being locked into a specific course sequence, according to Adam Ross, a sophomore undecided major.
"Being undecided was the best decision since I'm able to take the classes I want," Ross said. "I really enjoy the philosophy classes I've taken."
Ultimately, deciding on a major depends on the student.
"Everyone has a different way of making decisions. Sometimes it's better for students to start a major, take a few classes, then decide it's not right," Hallett said.
Kelly Byrne, a sophomore psychology and sociology major, believes the main reason students remain undecided is that they have too many interests they can't narrow down. She began her collegiate career at UB as a film major.
"I'm glad I began college with a major otherwise I would've always wondered, 'What if?' It seemed fun and UB offered it, but I quickly realized it was a lot more difficult than I had first thought," Byrne said.
Hallett agrees that most students find themselves with an overwhelming amount of interests and skills because they are multitalented.
According to Hallett, being undecided matches better with open-minded students who are willing to try new and different classes in order to refine their search.
In order to better reach students across campus, SAS has set up a Facebook group called Ready at UB. Its main purpose is to allow students to discuss being undecided in an open, non-threatening environment with their peers.
Students can get more information on Ready at UB and other services for undecided majors by visiting the SAS Web site at www.sas.buffalo.edu or by visiting the office at 109 Norton Hall.
SAS recommends students start thinking about majors by the second half of sophomore year, but they still offer encouragement to those who need extra time.
"It's never too late to declare a major as long as the student is willing to put in the time and effort," Hallett said.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
