Literally just pick one it’s not that hard! (Just kidding…)

So you’re an incoming freshman, Class of 2028, bright-eyed and eager to embark on your college journey. Maybe you have your heart set on your major and already have all eight-ish semesters of your education meticulously planned out, ready to bolt as soon as you arrive at that September 3 starting line. Maybe you’ve been stalking the class directory and scouring CULPA for months to curate your ideal first semester schedule to be on track to finish your chosen major as efficiently as possible. If you already have it all figured out, great job! But for those of you who genuinely have no idea what you want to study or are terrified to commit to one thing, fear not! Here are some tips and tricks to keep in the back of your mind when thinking about what classes to sign up for during your first couple of semesters if you don’t have a specific major or track in mind yet.

Let me preface this list by saying one thing: relax. I know it may feel overwhelming if you’re coming into college without a concrete idea of what you want to study, but it’s important to remember that you’re a freshman and you have plenty of time to explore different subjects before settling for one or two to actually major in. I know that when you’re in the moment it’s difficult to see things in the bigger picture (trust me, I’ve been there), but rest assured, you will be fine.

1. Take advantage of your gen eds
The sentiment surrounding gen ed requirements tends to be one of general annoyance, but with a little planning, these courses can actually be a great tool to help you explore tons of different subjects and departments. The general education requirements vary between the four undergraduate colleges, with the Columbia “Core” being more restrictive than Barnard’s “Foundations,” but the basic structures are the same: required classes in arts, humanities, and sciences that will form the baseline of your liberal arts education. If you’re struggling to figure out what exactly you’d be interested in majoring in, why not do some digging and choose gen ed classes that interest you in each subject? Barnard’s curriculum allows students to choose their own classes in each core subject, which is more flexible than the Columbia Core, but Columbia students can still choose from a large and diverse selection of classes to fulfill their Global Core requirement. Though these required classes may be a pain to students who already have their hearts set on a specific major, they allow others who are unsure of their exact interests to test out a variety of subjects before declaring a major.

2. Try to identify a wider area of interest
Starting college without a specific major in mind is completely fine and normal, but chances are that even if you don’t know what exact subject you want to study, you have a general idea of your academic strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. For example, the categories that most students are able to sort themselves into that may help guide their academic decisions is the age-old STEM/humanities division. Knowing if you prefer one of these over the other can definitely be a big help in choosing your classes. If you know for sure that you’re not interested in the STEM world, you can focus on taking humanities classes across several disciplines, or vice-versa. Sometimes, intro-level courses for majors within the STEM or humanities fields can count as an elective for a different major within the same field, so trying out different classes within a wider area of interest can actually help in the long run! That being said, being enrolled in a liberal arts college, you will inevitably have to take some classes that you’re not particularly thrilled about, but as mentioned before, try to look at these requirements as opportunities to explore different major possibilities.

3. Try out at least one “random” class a semester
Maybe it’s for a core requirement you’re not super thrilled about, maybe you’re just really interested in the life and works of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, or maybe you just think monkeys are really cool. There are so many interesting and niche classes offered at Barnard and Columbia, there’s bound to be a class suited to at least one of your weird obsessions (yes, there was both a Chopin class and a monkey class offered in the spring semester of the previous school year, both of which I’m bitter over not knowing about). Between the core classes and the gym requirement you’ll probably be trying to get out of the way during your first year, you should have plenty of room in your schedule to explore some of the more eccentric classes offered here, especially if you’re not working on any specific major requirements yet. Do yourself a favor and do a deep dive into the comically outdated Columbia class directory, and you might just strike gold!

4. Try out the intro classes to a bunch of different majors
In a similar vein as the previous tip, trying out the intro classes to a few majors that you might be interested in can help you figure out what you like or don’t like. These classes are usually not too difficult and many are accessible to students who haven’t had tons of prior experience in the major. They are also usually large lecture classes that are mainly populated by underclassmen, so it’s a great way to meet others who may be in a similar boat as you in picking a major.

5. Take advantage of the shopping period
The first two weeks of each semester is considered the “shopping period” where students are allowed to attend classes they are waitlisted or not enrolled in. Use this time to check out classes that pique your interest without the added commitment of enrolling for the semester! Shopping period can be stressful for students who are trying to get into classes that are required for their major, but if you’re an incoming freshman who is undecided on their major, the shopping period can be a great time to experience a bunch of different classes and subjects to see what speaks to you.

6. Research majors and departments
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but if you’re unsure of what exactly you want to do, take a second to read through the websites of Barnumbia’s many, many departments and majors! Read their mission statements, take a look at their major requirements, stalk the professors a little, search up classes offered, and see if any of it piques your interest. Google is free, my friends—use it to your advantage!

7. Don’t be afraid to change your mind
Changing your major is by no means a small decision, but it isn’t one you should be afraid of! While a complete 180 from Classics to Chemistry in your junior year might not be advisable or feasible, you usually have a good amount of wiggle room in your first two years of school to experiment and change your major once or even two times. If you realize in the middle of your sophomore year that you no longer want to be majoring in the subject you chose in your first semester of college, you shouldn’t hold yourself back from making a change just because you got so far if you really feel passionate about the other subject. In a liberal arts school like Barnard/Columbia, there is enough flexibility in the curriculum for you to make changes to your educational path as you go. Besides, you don’t even need to declare your major until spring of your sophomore year. And yes, you can even transfer from SEAS to CC or vice versa. It can be done.

Hopefully these pointers will help you in navigating your first couple semesters of college. It’s super normal to feel overwhelmed or nervous about having no idea what you want to study, and it’s hard to be in a position where you’re unsure of your plan when it feels like everyone around you has it all figured out. That being said, a lot of people choose majors based on what they think will get them a good job or make them the most money, which is totally valid and very financially responsible, but they may not be very passionate about it. In reality, you may not be completely in love with your chosen major, you may choose one that you can just tolerate, or you may choose one that you end up falling out of love with.

The truth is, you can never plan ahead for things like this and you may have to roll with the punches and take a few losses. Hopefully though, you’ll find a major that you are truly passionate about and makes you excited to go to class, but even if you don’t, it’s not the end of the world. Either way, you won’t enjoy every class you take even in a major you’re super passionate about. What matters more is what you do with your college education—the things that you’ll learn and experience during your four years in undergrad will be valuable regardless of how much you actually liked what you studied. That being said, actually liking what you do definitely helps you get through the four years, but you’ll be fine regardless. 

In other words, just try stuff out for fun, take your education seriously but also not too seriously, it’s your freshman year for crying out loud. Good luck and see you soon!

All of us at some point or another via Wikimedia Commons