I Don't Know My College or My Major

If you have not yet decided on a major or a transfer institution, don’t worry. You are not alone. The reality is that nearly 50% of students enter college without a major of study, and each year thousands of Pennsylvania students transfer after their first year because the institution they selected isn’t the “right” fit.

Regardless of your situation, PA TRAC can help by giving you the information you need to make a smooth transfer when you decide the time is right.

Step 1:

Ask an advisor at your current institution to assist you in planning your transfer and program of study. Transfer advisors specialize in knowing transfer credit policies and exceptions as well as helping students find an appropriate major of study and selecting courses each semester.

Step 2:

When selecting courses for transfer when you don’t have a major, thebest place to start is by reviewing the Transfer Credit Framework and selecting courses that you know will transfer to any of the participating institutions in PA.

Review these courses with your academic advisor and then register.

Step 3:

Work with your academic advisor to choose a major and research colleges and universities that meet your needs personally, academically and socially.

For additional help selecting a major, consider these options:

Read the list of tips available at Choosing a Major.
Examine and self-assess your abilities, career and life goals, interests, and values. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What kind of skills do you have? What subject areas do you like? What do you value in work – security, stability, pace, working alone or with groups, etc.?
Visit CollegeBoard's Major & Career Profiles to explore college majors.
Participate in career fairs, co-ops, and internships.
Talk to faculty and college/department representatives and to people in the work world about programs and their related career outlooks/prospects. Ask yourself, “What can I do with this major?”
Visit universities’ websites, browse their catalogs and use other Internet resources designed to help you choose a major and career. The Princeton Review and Collegeboard.com have information to help you find majors, colleges, graduate institutions and careers that are right for you.
Access The Occupational Outlook Handbook, a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. The handbook is located on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website (http://www.bls.gov/oco/).

For additional help selecting a transfer college or university, consider these resources:

Step 4:

After you complete your semester’s coursework, create a Course History in PA TRAC.

To learn how courses you have already taken transfer to specific Participating Institutions, create an Equivalency Map.