Undecided . . . Some people out there are truly blessed with unity of purpose...they know exactly what they want out of school, work, and life, so the only decisions they have to make are how to reach those aims. For the vast majority of us, though, "option paralysis" is a way of life. In a world with ever-expanding reaches of knowledge and information, more and more choices become open to us. Each additional option makes it all the harder to decide. Maybe you are trying to choose from a short list of interests for your academic program, or maybe you are open to a wide range of potential options. Maybe you know what career you want, but aren't sure what academic coursework can best lead to that path. Maybe you're just the type of person who is so interested in everything around you that you are having trouble choosing any one area in which to concentrate your energies. No matter which of these scenarios describes you-or even if none of them quite fit your particular situation, there is one thing you need to know right now: It is ok to be undecided!!! We know that sometimes the hardest part about being undecided is answering some nagging questions, questions that come from teachers, family, friends, and of course from the back of your own mind. That's why we've prepared this web page in a Q&A format to try and answer some of those very questions. Q: It seems like everyone around me is so sure of what they want to major in. Is being undecided weird or unusual? A: Absolutely not. Typically, around 20 percent of the University of Pittsburgh's entering freshman class will start out with an undecided or undeclared major. This doesn't even take into consideration the many more students who will change majors at least once. Being undecided puts you in good company. Q: I've been going to school for over ten years now. That means I've pretty much seen all my choices for majors, right? A: WRONG! While some majors contain areas that you have studied for all or part of your scholastic career (math, English, chemistry) many other majors are in subjects that are never offered in high school, or are offered in some schools but not others. A partial list of these majors includes anthropology, history and philosophy of science, neuroscience, linguistics, and statistics. And that's just within the School of Arts and Sciences (A&S)! The University of Pittsburgh also has pre-professional and professional programs such as pre-med, pre-dentistry, pre-law, over a dozen varieties of engineering, and pharmacy. There are schools of business, social work, health and rehabilitation sciences, and information sciences. No matter how seriously you've considered your future, you will find options at the University of Pittsburgh that you'd never considered. Q: If I start out undecided, can I finish whatever major I end up choosing in four years? A: YES! A&S (where most "undecided" students enroll) has a series of general education requirements which students must fulfill in order to graduate, across a variety of disciplines. This includes classes in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Additionally, many University of Pittsburgh majors offer plenty of general electives. This means that you can start a major during your sophomore year--possibly at the beginning of your junior year--and in most cases still finish in four years. Exceptions to this can be professional programs and a few other very sequential majors in A&S. Q: What makes them different, and what if I'm considering a professional program or a science? A: Professional programs, and majors that are more rigidly structured, are easier to get out of than to get into. Because it is important to take courses in a certain order in these majors, and because these majors require a higher number of credits than many majors, it is more important for freshmen to enter directly into these programs. As a good general rule, if you are trying to choose between several majors, start out with the most sequential and structured one. It will be much easier for you to make a change that way, if you eventually do decide to change. Professional programs are usually the most structured of all majors, and sciences (including computer science) are the most structured A&S majors. We realize that details like this are confusing, but can nevertheless be very important. That's why you should contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or the individual department or school if you have questions about how structured a major or program is. Q: OK, maybe I can finish in four years, but what if I decided to double major? A: A&S majors can require as few as 24 credits (you need 120 for your degree). Considering that students must have a related area (similar to a minor) of at least 12 credits in addition to their major, getting a double major at the University of Pittsburgh is not just possible, it's very common. This is no different for students who start out undecided, mainly because of the general education requirements discussed above. Even if you do not choose to double major, you can broaden your University of Pittsburgh education by taking electives in a variety of fields, by pursing multiple related areas, or by completing a certificate program (an interdisciplinary concentration larger than a related area but smaller than a major). At the University of Pittsburgh, you have the opportunity to tailor your coursework to your various interests, whatever they may be. Q: What if after a year or two, I'm still undecided? A: If for one reason or another you simply cannot decide on a traditional major, one option you should consider is an interdisciplinary studies major. An interdisciplinary studies major consists of one or more themes or areas of concentration that can be combined in clusters of classes from traditional majors, for example: "Labor and Industry" could be an interdisciplinary major which combines classes in economics, English literature, history, psychology, sociology, and other majors. The areas of concentration can be more diverse, however, and do not necessarily need to combine to form an integrated whole. Q: I already know I want to be a doctor (or lawyer). Does that mean I have to major in biology (or political science)? A: NO! The University of Pittsburgh offers pre-med and pre-law programs, but either one can be taken in conjunction with ANY major. You can major in engineering and go to law school. You can major in history and go to medical school. You can major in philosophy and go to medical school or law school. Professional schools are more concerned with accepting well-rounded students than with what you majored in, and you are more likely to do well in a major that interests you than a major that you think "looks good on paper." Q: OK, OK, it's all right to be undecided. So why do I want to come to Pitt? A: The University of Pittsburgh offers the flexibility that you need as an undecided student. We have a Career Seminar Series and a Counseling Center to help once you are ready to decide what academic and career paths are for you. Our system of core requirements gives you a chance to experiment with a variety of options and exposes you to many possible majors. And then there are all the reasons that have nothing to do with being undecided...like the University of Pittsburgh's location, diversity, strong academics, and social life. For more information, visit the Majors and Programs webpage.