You’ll hear it nonstop until you graduate: “What’s your major?” 

Whether you’re at a Thanksgiving dinner, a networking event on campus or just in a conversation with someone new, this question is bound to come up. For some, the answer may be as automatic as breathing. For others, it’s not quite so easy.

Some students come into college undecided. A lot of people may say that paying thousands of dollars to go to college without a plan is irresponsible, but going into it undecided can actually be an advantage.

At most high schools, the only subjects taught are history, English, math and science. While it’s possible to figure out what you want to do in life from these four areas, the workforce is much broader than a traditional high school curriculum. College gives you the chance to try out subjects that you wouldn’t experience in high school, and this exposure can introduce you to a field that you could potentially develop a passion for. 

Without having a strict plan in mind, you can also focus on exploring classes and subjects out of pure interest. If you like art, try out a graphic design class. If you’re interested in how musicians make money in the streaming era, check out a music business class. Or maybe take something that you know would be a challenge and would make you work hard. Tiana Torkan, a junior majoring in Interactive Media at UM, shared her experience taking a computer science class and how it affected her career path

“Taking a class that’s out of your comfort zone is such an important, yet underrated, part of a student’s college experience,” Torkan said. “I always hear students talking about a class that they’re interested in, but they’re hesitant to take it because it’s ‘too hard.’ What people don’t realize is that the harder classes can lead to an important discovery, even if it lowers your GPA a little bit. I took a computer science class last year and I was so hesitant to take it because I was nervous it would be too difficult or stressful. Don’t get me wrong, it kind of was, but little did I know that taking the class would lead me in the direction of a career I’m now pursuing and be a great addition to my resume. Lesson learned: take the risk!”

Being undecided in college isn’t something to be feared, it should actually be welcomed. Without a set idea of what you want to do, there’s a sense of freedom and personal growth that college can provide. It’s basically an all-you-can-eat buffet of new ideas and fields and you can sample just about anything you want. So get out there and try something new. You might stumble upon your future career.

words_myles griffith, photo_md duran (courtesy of Unsplash)