Finding Your Major

From someone who applied to Penn undecided and with little idea of what I wanted to major in, I know how daunting it can feel to be unsure. Fortunately, the resources I found here helped point me in the right direction. Below is what I found most useful in choosing my major(s):

Talk to your pre-major advisor. Your pre-major advisor is assigned for your first four semesters. While their main role is to guide you through course selection, they also tend to have a broad understanding of different majors in the College. Sharing your interests with them can help you get tailored suggestions of majors to explore.

Take intro classes. This is the advice everyone gives, but it really does work. I actually discovered my second major, Computer Science, through an introductory course I took on a whim. It wasn’t even on my radar before. Don’t be afraid to try classes outside your comfort zone, you might uncover a new passion.

Talk to upperclassmen. Some of my most valuable advice came from peers ahead of me. As an underclassman, I found that upperclassmen were eager to share their experiences and insights. Speaking with someone already in a major you’re curious about can give you a clearer picture of what to expect later on.

P.S. In case it helps for context: I’m majoring in Cognitive Science and Computer Science, two areas I never even considered back when I first applied.

- Emma L.