Less than four months ago, when the countdown to final exams entered single-digits and thousands of University students scurried across Grounds to meet study buddies and print term papers, the increasing stress level of many U.Va. students was easily discernible. At the bus stops, in the dining halls and at the libraries, students could be seen studying the information scratched down in notebooks and bound by thick texts.
And for some, namely second-years who had not yet declared a major, a heavier question loomed. Muddling thoughts about biochemistry and architecture was the consideration of: “What will I do for the rest of my life?”
Last spring, Jenni Lopez and Robert Molster were among the second-years who needed to select and declare one of 47 majors offered by the College.
As required, they enrolled in major degree programs prior to the last day of their fourth semester. They presented plans of study to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, including between 18 and 30 credits in their chosen major subject. They had those plans approved by an official advisor.
As third-years, both Lopez and Molster have decided to change their declared field of study. Lopez will pursue a degree in biology rather than her psychology and Molster hopes to study engineering rather than history.
The decision by Lopez and Molster is not uncommon at the University.
To change majors, students must complete a Change or Deletion of Major form. For students in the College, the form may be picked up from the Garrett Hall lobby or downloaded from the University’s Web site.
Although the process may vary slightly depending on a student’s school and area of study, all students must create a new plan of study.
They are often required to take summer courses in order to fulfill the necessary 18 to 30 credits.
Lopez, who by the end of her second year had finished most the requisites for the psychology major, said that the process of switching her major to biology was not a difficult one.
While she had to spend the summer months catching up to her peers, Lopez praised the professors of biology department, whom she said helped her immensely.
“They were really good in that they wanted me to do what was best for me,” she said. They were really nice about it.
After deciding on a future career in zoology, Lopez said that for her, the extra course load will be worth the change.
“I’ve always wanted to work with animals…[and] I don’t want to be one of those people who gets a psych degree and then ends up doing marketing or retail.”
Molster’s choice to change his major came after he took a natural abilities test this past summer. Having tested out of his math/science requirements before arriving at the University, Molster focused on fulfilling University requirements in his first two years. Before declaring his major the end of his second year he took several history classes, but very few classes relating to the new major he will pursue in engineering.
“I like history; I liked the professors and I thought the courses were interesting, but I started thinking about what I want to do after college,” said Molster, who plans to transfer from the College to the Engineering School. “I’ve always been good at math and building.”
While Molster has just begun to investigate what Lopez described as a relatively easy process of changing his major, he said that much of the information needed to do so is still relatively unknown to many students.
“The whole process of declaring majors is hidden. You have to seek it out,” he said. “It’s not like the rules of the dorm or explanation of a V-Soc where they sit everyone in a room and explain it to you at the beginning of the year,” he said. “[The process] does take some initiative.”
In addition to changing majors, Molster will also be required to transfer schools, from the College to the Engineering School.
Like Lopez, he stressed a desire to leave U.Va. having acquired not just a degree, but the right degree – even if getting the right degree takes a bit more time and energy to earn.
“You don’t want to waste your time here,” Lopez said. “To me its worth it because now I’m doing something I want to do.”
Lopez said that determining what that “something” is, comes at different times for different students and that changing your mind is worth the extra effort if you are willing to commit it.