Myth 1 - My student will not graduate on time, typically in four-years, if they are undeclared or want to explore majors.
FALSE. The National Center for Education Statistics found that a typical U.S. college student will change their major three times over the course of their college career. Students who complete the Major Exploration Program with the Knights Major Exploration Center will explore their skills and interest before declaring a major. This exploration period at the beginning of their education means a student is less likely to change their major after declaring and be on track to complete their degree on time.
Myth 2 - My student will not be able to get into graduate school without the 'right' major.
FALSE. Many professional schools seek a diverse group of college majors when admitting incoming students. While some majors do strongly relate to career options (e.g. teaching, engineering), much of your education and experiences outside of the classroom will help you prepare for your future work. Your major is designed to teach you transferable skills that can be used in multiple career paths.
Myth 3 - Medical and Law School requires specific majors to be admitted. My student will not be accepted if they do not select a medical or legal related major.
FALSE. Today’s Medical and Law schools are looking for students who have strong curricular and co-curricular portfolio.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, it is a misconception that students must major in a science discipline to get into medical school. Medical school do not have a required or even preferred majors necessary to be consider. What is important, is that students select a major that will motivate them to be successful during their undergraduate career.
(Association of American Medical Colleges from https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/how-choose-best-premed-major/)
The same goes for entrance into law school. The Association of American Law Schools states that law schools will not accept students with a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field. Due to the intensive curriculum of law school, students may consider certain majors that can prepare them for the rigors of the reading and writing component. Those majors to consider are not limited to traditional “legal” majors, but rather include philosophy or even history.
(Association of American Law Schools from https://www.aals.org/prospective-law-students/faqs/)
Myth 4 - My student must figure this all out on their own.
FALSE. Your student may feel that they are alone in the major exploration process. They may be embarrassed being undeclared while all their classmates seem to have their major and career path figured out. This is simply not true. With the help of the highly trained experts in the Knights Major Exploration and Transition Center Academic Advisors, UCF Career Services Career Counselors, and YOU, your student can successfully navigate the major exploration process.