Written by my former student and current social media specialist Ali Kaplan, an honest assessment of college majors and why being "undecided" creates space for growth.
I was definitely “that” student – The one who didn’t pick a college major until the absolute last day my university allowed for declarations, that is.
Now, as a soon-to-be college senior at Lehigh University, I feel ready to do some self-reflection on what it really felt like to enter college as an “undecided” student.
In my final few months at Ramapo High School in 2020, the Instagram accounts called Class of (insert year here) Grads didn’t exist. For those who are unfamiliar with the customary social media page, it is common for students to submit a photo of themselves to the account to have their own featured post on the page. The picture often includes the student’s name, university and aspiring college major.
If my 18-year-old self had to submit an entry for this Instagram page, I think she might have thrown up – How embarrassing would it be to have the word “undecided” written in bold when other students' posts would read nursing, finance, engineering, business.
I might as well come to college with a big tattoo on my forehead that lets everyone know I don’t know what I want to do with my life, right?
Entering college as an undecided student was something that I was originally ashamed of.
As a 21 year old, I can now say that my hesitation to give myself this title so early on in my college career worked in my favor. I think not deciding was the best decision that I ever decided on!
I ended up choosing to major in journalism with minors in marketing and psychology (since I still obviously couldn’t pick just one thing).
I laugh now, since my major is journalism, but my summer internship last year was with a law firm.
This summer, my internship is in marketing.
In my opinion, having an undecided major for the first year or two of college doesn’t equate to not being driven or motivated enough. It also doesn’t mean that you aren’t focused, or that you don’t have interests.
To me, it means you are curious: open to new experiences and learning more about yourself.
Don’t get me wrong. If you have decided on a major, kudos to you! That officially makes me jealous. That also isn’t to say that your mind can’t change – frankly, you might pivot at least three or four times throughout your college career most of my friends have.
Even though my diploma might read a certain discipline, I am still “undecided” about the future. But, I do think that I have learned along the way. Specifically the things that I do like and the things that I don’t.
Doesn’t the process of elimination never fail us? I guess I will find out soon enough!
I am sharing an email I received from the Wow Writing Workshop this past week. I have completed their essay program along with several others and agree with this message wholeheartedly. Yes–it contradicts what many people believe, even some other essay specialists. However, in my experience, students who write normal essays and stress less seem to do very well.
I advise students to forego overdone topics (how social media makes them feel inadequate, sports injuries, and how they realize their privilege while doing community service in underserved areas). However, when a student is denied by an unlikely college, the common app essay is not the reason unless it is inappropriate (too boastful or expressing prejudice). And while I don't recommend them, even the verboten topics above can work if handled in an authentic way.
Shawn Felton, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Deputy Chief Admissions and Enrollment Officer at Cornell University, said this:
I've been working in college admissions for a few decades. In this time, I've noticed that students spend too much time searching for stories they believe will make them sound different or unique.
Please don't do that. It's a waste of your time. I don't want different. I don't want unique. I just want to know what makes you the person you are. I want to know what matters to you. I want to know what you care about. I want to know what you dream about.
If you want me or any admissions decision maker to notice you, try to worry less about standing out, and focus instead on standing up. There is a preoccupation with being different and unique among college applicants. I get it. The stakes are high, and there are so many applicants to so many schools these days.
But the reality is, most college applicants are much more alike than they are different. The search for something unique to share is a long, windy road going nowhere quickly. Instead, worry less about being unique and just be you and show admissions readers who you are.
Why am I sharing this? The more I can help lower the stakes at this high-stakes time, the calmer my students will be. And calm students write stronger college essays.
I attended a terrific University of Michigan seminar this week. It largely focused on the Ross School of Business, which might not only dissuade hopeful applicants with its 9% admit rate, but its daunting application process. The university already requires students to write two essays. The Ross portfolio, with its Business Case Study and Artifact, prevails upon applicants to think deeply, recognize problems, then offer creative solutions.
These are tough for students–and for us who help them! We asked, “What do you want to see?”
The Ross Admissions Director’s response was,”We do not want to read about finance, banking, your start-up idea, and building wealth.”
She put it simply. Most of the work students do in the business school is teamwork. Essays should focus less on business than on why you like to work on teams and lead. You do not need to start a business, have an internship, or join a business club. Never pick an activity because you think it looks good to colleges.
What you did isn't as important as why you did it.
Tell us about your part time job: your story about interacting with customers carries more weight than being passive at an internship. Stating which social issues you care about reveals more about who you are and what you do.
She shared an anecdote about a student who won an award. However, the student did not write about winning the award, but about the speech notes she used in the ceremony when she accepted it. Those focused on specific experiences she had with others–and gratitude
This advice does not apply exclusively to the Ross Business School. Though their portfolio takes more time to complete than the supplements for most other colleges, the same rules apply to all “Why Us?" essays. The always-quoted JFK line, “Ask not what your country (college) can do for you, but what you can do for your country (college),” should be your guide.