A major decision

A sophomore friend and I recently talked about his thoughts and concerns with selecting a major here at Princeton. Like many other sophomores this time of year, my friend was feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of having to commit to a department soon.

As the conversation went on, I began wondering if I really was the best person for him to talk to. If anything, my own academic decisions should serve as an exemplary model of what not to do.

Though many students arrive freshman year uncertain about their course of study, I have met few whose indecisiveness has manifested itself as dramatically as mine.

There are few departments at Princeton which I have not considered seriously joining. I have switched degrees, majors and programs within my major. Sometimes the decisions were made after numerous months of pondering, more frequently they were made on the eve of a new semester. When I wasn't actually in the process of changing my course of study, I was constantly thinking of alternatives. The "what if" questions consumed me — so much so that halfway into the fall semester of my junior year, I considered dropping out for the year so that I could give myself one last shot at picking the ideal major.

Only recently have I given up the fight. This certainly wasn't due to any resounding conclusion but really more out of exhaustion. A couple months ago, I emptied my overflowing folder of department booklets. Some departments were certainly harder to let go of than others, but all were discarded nonetheless. Though the end certainly didn't bring any catharsis, it has given me a few revelations.

What makes this process so difficult for many of us is that selecting a major really is our first chance to determine the course of our lives to come. All of a sudden, sophomores, who only a year ago were enjoying the new found luxuries of college life, find themselves having to envision life after college. The real world suddenly doesn't seem too far away.

For many, selecting a major is not only about pursuing an academic interest but also about how this interest will shape post-college life.

It is impossible to separate career considerations when choosing majors, because it is after all a commitment to specialize in a certain field. But how important should these considerations really be? How would this decision limit one's opportunities after college? What majors attract which jobs?

In addition to career considerations are others such as family expectations, departmental requirements and independent work opportunities, which further complicate the equation. Together, these factors can easily lead to frustration and over thinking — something which easily I became a victim of.

Perhaps the best way to approach picking a major is to de-emphasize its importance. My own experiences have taught me that no matter how much thinking and analysis that one does in calculating the consequences of each decision, there is still so much that is unpredictable. Choosing a course of study certainly does not mean that you are limited to that discipline. In fact, it would be unusual for one to be bound professionally by their chose of major.

Furthermore, who is to say that certain majors only lead to certain jobs or lifestyles? The dynamics of today's world show that success can come from numerous origins. If that is the case, perhaps selecting the ideal major now really isn't all that crucial. Though this is one of life's crucial turning points, there will be many more important ones to come.

Though a fortunate few will contradict me, I find that most undergrads will not find an ideal major at Princeton. Yet, most Princetonians do end up being happy with their decision.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

For me, I think the key to making the right decision is to keep two simple questions in mind: "What do I want to get out of my time at Princeton?" and, "What am I most passionate about now?" You might not find an answer that fully satisfies both questions but by finding a compromise between the two, you might just end up making the best decision. Kyle Meng is a civil and envionmental engineering major from Chappaqua, N.Y. He can be reached at kmeng@princeton.edu.