Don’t Panic: Wise Words on Declaring a Major

By David Calder ’08

Whether he knew it or not, author Douglas Adams had some excellent advice for incoming freshmen. In his “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series, the cover of the interstellar handbook says only one thing: DON’T PANIC.

This simple piece of advice will come in handy throughout your college career, especially as you decide on your major. Of course, declaring a major also involves some serious decision-making and paperwork, so let’s take a look at that as well.

When should I declare my major?

The simple answer: Not right now. (Unless you’re a sophomore – why are you reading this?) Very few incoming freshmen know exactly what their majors will be. Some have a general idea – sciences, humanities, etc. Some have no idea at all, and that’s okay, at least for now. Freshman year is about exploring your options. Take a wide variety of courses. My freshman year, I took everything from French to Magic & Possession to Symbolic Logic. Taking a wide variety of courses not only helps you decide on a major, it can also help you fulfill Trinity’s distribution requirements.

You will have to declare a major before the end of your sophomore year. But once sophomore year begins, don’t wait until the last minute. You don’t want to be writing sophomore final exams and declaring your major at the same time. In my opinion, it’s best to declare sometime during the sophomore year when your workload is a little lighter. That way you have time to set up meetings with professors and fill out your paperwork.

How do I decide on a major?

If you explore different areas of interest during your freshman year, this decision becomes a lot easier. Ask yourself some questions: What courses have really excited me? In what areas do I excel? If you truly enjoy doing work for a particular class, you’re probably onto something. If you came into college determined to major in Economics and you despise/fail ECON 101, then you might want to reconsider that whole Economics decision. “What do I want to do after I graduate?” is an important question, but it shouldn’t be the first one you ask. Hopefully after you graduate you’ll want to do something you enjoy, something at which you excel. So the first two questions are key.

Ultimately, only you can decide on your major. But talk to professors! They’re here to help. And please, please talk to other students. We’ve all been there. We can give you the down-and-dirty on the majors, the classes, and the professors.

How do I actually declare my major?

Before I came to college, I thought declaring a major would involve climbing to the top of a hill and actually “declaring” the major through a megaphone. Possibly with trumpets. (Please stop judging me.) Sadly, it’s not that exciting. It’s also not difficult. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Acquaint yourself with the requirements of your major. This information is available online and in the College Bulletin. You’ll want to know this information before you do anything else, because it will affect course selection and study abroad options. Professors will know these requirements too, but you need to stay on top of things. It’s your major, after all.

2. Set up a meeting with your adviser (at this point, still your freshman seminar professor) and discuss your intent to declare a major. Your adviser needs to know your plans, because soon he or she won’t be your adviser anymore, and it’s rude to make that a surprise. And why not ask for some advice while you’re at it?

3. Pick up the appropriate form from the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office is located in the basement of Seabury 1-9, on the Long Walk. Once you go downstairs, you’ll see rows and rows of forms in boxes on the wall. Take one of the Major Declaration forms (clearly labeled as such) and you’re good to go. DO NOT FILL IT OUT YET!

4. Next, you’ll set up another meeting. If you already have a new adviser in mind, set up the meeting with that professor. If not, set up a meeting with the chair of your major department. (Department Chairs are listed in the Trinity College Bulletin.) Bring your major declaration form. You will fill it out during this meeting. See? You even get help with the paperwork.

5. If you filled out the form with your new adviser, you’ll need to get it signed by the Department Chair. Your adviser will know when you can drop by the chair’s office. If you filled out the form with your new Department Chair, you will be asked to identify an adviser. Choose a professor that shares your specific area(s) of interest. Example: I’m a Theater and Dance major, but my specific areas of interest are Performance Theory and Playwriting. So for my adviser I chose Mitch Polin, who teaches courses in both those subjects. If you don’t know the research interests of the professors in your major, ask the Department Chair. You can also get this information from the professors themselves or from other students.

6. Once you’ve filled out your form, deliver it to the Registrar’s Office. This part is surprisingly stress-free. Approach the window. Tell them you’re there to drop off a major declaration form. Give them the form. Leave. Easy, no? Then, if you like, you can climb to the top of a hill and declare your major through a megaphone. But that’s entirely up to you.

What about a minor?

All minors at Trinity are interdisciplinary. You cannot minor in Mathematics, or Studio Arts, or Religion. Check out Trinity’s website or the College Bulletin for a complete list of minors.

Completing a minor can be an interesting way to personalize your Trinity education. But ask yourself: Is this minor really necessary? Employers, grad schools, and professional schools will see your complete transcript, so they’ll know which classes you’ve taken. If you’re a Psychology major who’s taken several writing courses, they’ll figure out that you like to write, even if you’re not a Writing and Rhetoric minor. So if you’re considering a minor, make sure that the overall minor will have more impact than just taking a few courses. If you really want to do it, pick up a Minor Declaration form from the Registrar’s Office and fill it out with the coordinator for your minor. Again, coordinators for the various minors are listed online and in the Bulletin.

Double Majoring: Am I insane?

I am a double major in Theater and Dance and French. My friend James is a double major in Philosophy and American Studies. Double majoring is not impossible. Nor is it easy. Completing a double major requires plenty of advance planning and plenty of communication between you and your two advisers. It may also limit your study abroad options.

Be very careful about the majors you choose. How many course credits does each major require? Are there any courses that could count towards both majors? Ask your advisers! Also, will you get the support you need? Some departments have so many majors that they discourage students from double majoring in their field. Other departments just love double majors because they have so few students. Another personal example: The French department doesn’t have many majors, so my French professor was thrilled when I decided to add French as a second major. I’ve had nothing but support from the French department ever since.

That brings me to one last point. You don’t have to declare both majors at the same time. If you’re not sure you want to double major, WAIT! You can always add a second major later using the same Major Declaration form.

There you have it: the major declaration process. Remember to communicate with your adviser, your professors, your Department Chair, and even other students. (We occasionally know what we’re doing.) And above all else, DON’T PANIC.