One of the most important decisions you will make when embarking on your college career is what you will select as your major. Despite the importance of this decision, many undergraduates come to this conclusion very early, some before they even set foot on campus.
There are, in fact, a number of things that should be considered before deciding on a major. Remember, college is more than a trade school. The goal of higher education is to give you a skill set that will help you in the workplace, but it is also designed to make you more of a well-rounded person. You should spend your first couple of semesters taking a variety of courses that interest you, not just fill your core requirements. Not only does this give you more options, but it also gives you information down the road if you decide on a minor.
Please keep in mind that if you do go to college with a major in mind that you find that it is not a good fit for you. You may want to change, but you should try to find this out earlier rather than later…
This is also important because changing your major midway through college can cost you time and money. If you decide in your second or third year that your current major isn’t right for you, you may have to postpone your graduation date and pay for the extra time you are in school.
Showing posts with label 2nd major. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2nd major. Show all posts
Monday, July 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Why take AP Classes?
If you’re planning to go to college and your high school offers AP classes, you should take advantage of the opportunity. The successful completion of Advanced Placement classes has benefits during both the college application process and undergraduate life. Below are six of the biggest advantages to taking AP classes.
1. Impress College Admission Counselors
At nearly every college in the country, your academic record is the most important part of your college application. The folks in the admissions office want to see that you’ve taken the most challenging courses available to you. Success in difficult courses is the surest sign of your preparedness for college. The most challenging courses, of course, are college-level Advanced Placement classes.
2. Develop College-Level Academic Skills
AP classes require the type of high-level calculating and critical thinking that you’ll encounter in your first year of college. If you can write essays and solve problems successfully for an AP class, you’ve reached the level of many of the skills that will lead to success in college.
3. Save Money
If you take enough Advanced Placement classes, you can potentially graduate from college a semester or even a year early. Early graduation isn’t always a good idea, but for a student who isn’t receiving financial aid, it can save tens of thousands of dollars...
4. Choose a Major Sooner
AP classes can help with your selection of a major in two ways. First, each course provides an in-depth introduction to a specific subject area. Second, a high score on an AP exam often fulfills one of a college’s general education requirements. This means you’ll have more room in your schedule to explore different academic fields early in your undergraduate career.
5. Take More Elective Classes in College
Not only do AP classes help you zero in on a major sooner, but they also free up your schedule so you can take more elective classes (college classes that are not required for graduation). For many students, a college’s general education requirements and major requirements leave little room for fun and exploratory classes. If you want to take that interesting class on glass blowing or dance, AP credits will make it much easier to fit the course in your schedule.
6. Add a Minor or Second Major More Easily
If you’re particularly driven and have multiple interests, AP credits can make it more feasible to add a minor (or two) or even a second major to your undergraduate academic plan. With a standard work load and no AP credits, you might find it impossible to complete the requirements for two majors in four years.
1. Impress College Admission Counselors
At nearly every college in the country, your academic record is the most important part of your college application. The folks in the admissions office want to see that you’ve taken the most challenging courses available to you. Success in difficult courses is the surest sign of your preparedness for college. The most challenging courses, of course, are college-level Advanced Placement classes.
2. Develop College-Level Academic Skills
AP classes require the type of high-level calculating and critical thinking that you’ll encounter in your first year of college. If you can write essays and solve problems successfully for an AP class, you’ve reached the level of many of the skills that will lead to success in college.
3. Save Money
If you take enough Advanced Placement classes, you can potentially graduate from college a semester or even a year early. Early graduation isn’t always a good idea, but for a student who isn’t receiving financial aid, it can save tens of thousands of dollars...
4. Choose a Major Sooner
AP classes can help with your selection of a major in two ways. First, each course provides an in-depth introduction to a specific subject area. Second, a high score on an AP exam often fulfills one of a college’s general education requirements. This means you’ll have more room in your schedule to explore different academic fields early in your undergraduate career.
5. Take More Elective Classes in College
Not only do AP classes help you zero in on a major sooner, but they also free up your schedule so you can take more elective classes (college classes that are not required for graduation). For many students, a college’s general education requirements and major requirements leave little room for fun and exploratory classes. If you want to take that interesting class on glass blowing or dance, AP credits will make it much easier to fit the course in your schedule.
6. Add a Minor or Second Major More Easily
If you’re particularly driven and have multiple interests, AP credits can make it more feasible to add a minor (or two) or even a second major to your undergraduate academic plan. With a standard work load and no AP credits, you might find it impossible to complete the requirements for two majors in four years.
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