Let’s be real. Deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life at 17 or 18 is a big decision. Some students come out of high school with a five-point career plan while others may still be figuring it out and open to different pathways.

If you’re a member of the “undecided” club, here’s the good news: being undecided is a chance to explore your possibilities and at Barry University, we think it’s perfectly smart (and honestly, kind of exciting) to take your time figuring things out.

And another thing? You’re not alone! Roughly 10% of first-year students at Barry start their college journey without a declared major. Additionally, 45% of students will end up changing their major at least once before they graduate.

That means about half of your future classmates are probably just as curious and open to new possibilities as you are. So, there’s no pressure to have it all figured out on day one.

Choosing a major is important, but you’ve got time! Barry allows students to remain undeclared through their first 60 credits which equals about two years of study. Think of this time frame as a built-in period for discovery.

During this time, you can:

• Test-drive different fields. Take intro courses in everything from art to business to the sciences. You might stumble upon a passion you never considered!
• Work with an academic advisor. As a first-year student, you’ll be assigned a personal academic advisor to guide you through course selections, keep you on track, and help you reflect on what you love and what you don’t love.
• Use career tools. Barry’s CEL team offers personality and interest assessments like the Myers-Briggs and Strong Interest Inventory to help you better understand where your strengths and passions align.
• Participate in ORI 100. This freshman course helps you build academic skills and introduces you to potential majors and careers.

So, be inspired to learn, explore and unafraid to change your mind. Your future is a journey, not a deadline. For more information, visit https://www.barry.edu/en/academics/undecided for more resources and tools to discover your calling.