The sophomore year is an exciting one for students—it is a time for making decisions! For most students, the biggest one will be deciding what to major in.
By engaging with the Sophomore Plan, students are able to reflect on their experiences, explore new disciplines, and plan for future years. One of the key components of the process is the Major Declaration. While some students may have already decided their major, others may need guidance. The Dean’s Office offers students helpful resources and suggestions to determine one's major.
Six Tips to Help You Select a Major
- Review all the information and advice on the Sophomore Plan website.
- Meet with your dean during your advising appointment to discuss your options and listen to their advice and perspective. (If you didn't fill out the online advising questionnaire in August—or if things have changed since then—come a little early to fill out a reflection worksheet before your meeting. You can get it from the Dean's Office staff.)
- Go to the departmental website for all of the disciplines you are considering to read more about the classes, requirements, and field in general.
- Visit major information sessions to learn more about the major’s opportunities and upcoming classes while meeting faculty and passionate students.
- Talk to professors and students to gain their insight about the major.
- Reference the LILAC Career Tools to discover your skills and strengths as well as career paths in fields that interest you. Knowing yourself will help you pick a path that brings you personal success.
"Your major department can be compared to your academic extended family," says Dean Michelle Mancini. "By getting to know the different professors and your fellow majors, you'll learn a lot, grow as a person, and make good memories."
Advice from Fellow Students
"You want to be able to enjoy your work. Get to know classmates and professors in the departments that interest you and see if that environment appeals to you. Can you see yourself finding solace in the peers and professors in your chosen department? People approach different majors for different reasons, but I would generally advise against making things harder for yourself than they have to be!" -Nicky Westerduin '18, Sociology
"If someone told my high school self that I'd be a Math major someday, I wouldn't have believed them. In fact, I went through high school convinced that I just wasn't a 'Math person'...I started off by declaring an Economics major by the end of my sophomore year, but I switched to Math in my junior year after having only taken 1 out of the 10 required courses...I would strongly recommend using your time to start afresh and explore things you may have always been intimidated by before." -Nehel Shahid '18, Math
"Find out what you like to study and what makes you incredibly passionate!! Studying, even when it’s a subject you love can be difficult alongside everything else you’ve got going on, so do yourself a favor and enjoy what you came to Bryn Mawr for!" -Keana Bloomfield '18, English