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The big decision (well, second to choosing a college), and how do you narrow it down?
This one can be tough- trying to decide on a career path right out of high school can be a scary task. If you feel this way, you’re not alone. However, there are plenty of resources that can help you make this decision, or at least narrow down your interests. Attending job fairs, finding people in your field of interest to shadow, doing research on your own, and finding out what you’re passionate about are all great ways to clarify your options. It’s also important to recognize not only your interests and passions, but also your academic strengths and weaknesses. Maybe you love the environment, but you’re not so good with lab work or scientific theories. Environmental studies could be a good alternative to an environmental science degree, which then allows you to pursue further options that may play to your specific strengths.
Let’s say you’ve narrowed down your list, but you’re still not 100% sure. A great thing about college is that most schools don’t expect first-year students to have their entire career path figured out right away. That’s why you’re allowed to switch your major (even multiple times), and plenty of students choose this route after learning more during their first few semesters at college. About 30% of students who enter college with a declared major end up changing majors within 3 years of enrollment, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Additionally, about 10% of students change their majors more than once. It’s very common, and if you decide that the major you picked isn’t for you, there are plenty of faculty members and resources at your school to help you decide what’s next.
If you still have zero clue what major you want to enroll in and your first semester is coming quickly, you can always enter as ‘undecided’ or an ‘undeclared’ major. If you choose this option, you can use your first couple semesters to take foundational courses, as well as courses in areas that interest you. This way, you can start narrowing down your search for a specific major and cross some options off your list once you get a feel for the courses in that degree. However, be careful not to get too specific when taking these interest courses- it’s very easy for students to fall behind by taking very niche courses that don’t count towards applicable degree credits once they’ve decided on a major. That’s why it’s always important to discuss any class or schedule changes through first with your advisor to make sure you’re on the right track.
Whether you enter a school with a declared or undeclared major, you still should do your research into the internal transfer process. Even if you are set on your major, it’s always possible (and fairly likely) you may change your mind down the road. If this is the case, and you chose a school with a strict or limited internal transfer policy, you may be faced with some hard choices. For example, certain internal schools require higher GPAs than others for admittance. If you apply to a more rigorous program as an incoming freshman and get accepted, but decide to switch to another major outside of that school, just make sure you’re 100% set on that decision. If you make that decision to switch out without fully committing, and your GPA drops during after that semester, it can be tricky (or near impossible) to get back into that school. The biggest takeaway here is to be thorough in your degree research, and always reach out to academic advisors and resources at your school to make sure you’re making the most educated decision possible.
Many students also have concerns that they’ll change their minds too late, or devote years of time, money and energy to a degree that, come to realize, they don’t want to develop into a career. That happens! In fact, over 50 percent of college graduates over the age of 25 have a job that’s outside their chosen degree field. Additionally, you can always earn a graduate degree, even if it’s outside your undergraduate focus. For example, perhaps you earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, but you decided you’d like your career to go a different route. You could apply to graduate school and earn a masters of business administration, which could open up a wide variety of career opportunities. If you go this route, just be aware- some schools may have you take placement tests to certify you meet their standards for enrollment, and the degree will most likely require extra credits to satisfy foundation courses that applicants with undergraduate business degrees already took. It all depends on your previous coursework and the standards held by the school you apply to. Research during this stage is important, it can save you time and money in the long run!
At the end of the day, your college major is an important decision, but it’s not the end-all be-all. It’s important that you dedicate yourself to discovering the best fit for you, but if your choice doesn’t hold up, there are always other options, resources, and people willing to help you find the right path.
Nearly 11,000 students
Over $8 Million in Scholarships Given Annually
21 Average Class Size
5 University Residence Halls with plenty of nearby apartments
14:1 Student-to-Faculty Ratio
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Tuition and fees may vary by major, college, area of study or based on your location. The university reserves the right to assess fees for special services and programs applicable to students. First-time International undergraduate students’ tuition rate is established based on first enrollment and remains unchanged for four consecutive years. Graduate students should plan for a yearly tuition increase of approximately 5%.
For a complete list of additional fees and detailed tuition information please visit the University Bursar website here.
Cost of the most popular room and meal plan combination; Your cost will depend on the plans you select. Costs in the box cover the most popular room and meal plan combination (on-campus); If you choose to live off-campus, the estimated cost of room and meals will be around $12,000 based on 12 months.
Based on average books & supply costs
Health insurance is required for international students.
Applicants must have graduated from high school or have successfully completed the General Education Development (GED) test to be considered for admission. Freshman applicants applying for admission to Youngstown State University must submit a high school transcript or GED transcript. Submission of American College Test (ACT) or Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores is optional. Please note: some majors require test scores to be admitted into the program.
Applicants must have a cumulative weighted high school grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) or higher, a core unweighted grade point average* of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) or higher and have an ACT composite score of 17 or higher or a SAT composite score of 920 or higher (evidence-based writing and reading and math) to be admitted unconditionally. (*Core gpa is calculated based on grades earned in the following courses – English, mathematics, science, social science and foreign language, if applicable, from 9th through 12th grade).
Fall 2024
application deadline is
August 1, 2024
