Thanks to all the excitement that a new school year brings onto Grounds, some of the essential elements of college -- namely classes, majors, area requirements and all that "stuff" -- can be forgotten. Especially for those first and second-year students who have yet to pick their majors and lack a deeper knowledge about the different departments, such "stuff" can prove to be both stressful and exciting. It will be the aim of this section, Department DL, to provide students with more information about different departments, their professors and courses.
Although students said they had a vague idea about their prospective majors, eventually picking a major is a complicated process.
"I have an idea as to my major, but I am sure it will change," first-year College student Katie Pollack said. "At orientation, they encourage you to try everything and take different things to decide what you want to do."
First-year College student Lincoln Foran said he came to the University having heard about certain departments.
"Before coming here I heard that the English, history and politics departments are extremely good," Foran said.
Third-year College student Natasha Joukovsky said her decision to major in English and Political and Social Thought was based on a combination of her previous and gathered knowledge on the departments.
"I knew I wanted to major in English, and I knew that U.Va.'s English department had been number one in the country in the previous years," Joukovsky said. "But I didn't know about PST until my second year here."
Joukovsky also said she wished she knew about the PST option earlier.
"I wish I had known about PST in my first year, because then I could have taken some classes that would have fulfilled its requirements," Joukovsky said. "They could definitely advertise it a little bit more."
Fourth-year College student Joe Calasicone said most people find out more about their majors through word of mouth.
"I think communicating with other people in the department is the best way to figure out whether it is a good fit for you or not," Calascione said. "It is a good way to find out about courses and professors. And, of course, taking one or two classes."
Joukovsky said different organizations are also a good way to find out about a major.
"I think it is good to talk to people you are in the same organizations with because you share similar interests and they can lead you to really good classes," Joukovsky said. "For example, I found out about PST through Jeff Society. A lot of people are involved with that major and they were able to tell me a lot about it."
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