What to major in?

R

reflectagon

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Apr 12, 2018
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I don’t know if it’s too early to start worrying about this, but I’ll be a plebe this summer. I’ve looked over the academic course list a few times, and I’m still undecided on a major. I don’t have any single interest or passion, nor do I excel in a specific topic. As far as my life goals, I’ve only figured out that I want to be a good, helpful citizen who gets to travel some and has a decent job (preferably working in DC for a bit). I know that every major, and career, will be full of various merits and cons, and I will have to work hard at whatever I do. However, I feel that majors like engineering would require more interest than I currently feel...

I also am considering a minor in a foreign language, since it seems like such a valuable skill and sounds fun. I’m very worried that I won’t be able to handle it with all of the other required courses and duties though.

Does plebe year offer enough introduction to each field of study in order to confidently choose your major by the end? I am anxious that I’ll be one of the few who hasn’t planned out her life and hasn’t been practicing and reading books about her career of choice since she was young. While I want a good gpa and some time to sleep, I also fear I might underachieve/not build myself up for a decent career if I choose an “easier” major...
 
You will learn to be a good plebe first, staying sat in all your academics and pro knowledge, avoiding conduct and performance trouble, being a good roommate/companymate and classmate.

There will be plenty of briefs on majors. There will be upper class in various majors with whom you can talk informally.

Thousands and thousands of midshipmen have figured this out before you. You will too.

Once you report in, you’ll be too busy to worry about it.

Focus now on friends, family, finishing the school year strong, running, learning the stuff you are supposed to, running, having some fun, running.
 
Capt MJ was spot on. You don’t declare until second semester. There are department open houses, talking with upper class, and a variety of other things that will get you exposed to different academic areas. Go with an open mind, think about your strengths and what you would enjoy and eventually the right major will come to you.
 
Two things to keep in mind:

1. Pick something that you like. There's enough "unfun" stuff at USNA that classes in your major shouldn't be on that list.
2. Pick something that you're good at. Your grades are a critical component of your overall class standing, which impacts a lot of things. Thus, you don't want to struggle academically.

As noted, there will be plenty of time for you to consider and select your major. You will also have the benefit of seeing how first semester courses went for you (what came easy, what you liked, where you struggled).

As for foreign language . . . the only two available as majors are Arabic and Chinese. I believe they give aptitude tests over the summer to see whether you have the aptitude to do well in those majors. You may be able to minor in other languages, depending on your major and the number of courses you validate.
 
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