My Declaration Process

One of the most exciting parts about being a sophomore at Carleton is declaring your major. After almost two years of taking classes and beginning icebreakers with “I’m a prospective ___ major,” it can be an amazing experience to officially declare your major. But it can also come with a lot of anxiety and pressure for someone who is still exploring what they want to do. Personally, I was terrified and spent the whole week second-guessing my decision. Here’s my declaration journey and what I ended up declaring (no spoilers until the end). 

My initial choice

When I first came to Carleton, I was pretty dead-set on a Political Science major. One of my favorite classes was a poli-sci class that I took in my first term, and it felt like where I was meant to be. My professor actually changed my mind during office hours, though. He said he could tell I was drawn to more historical and sociological works rather than political science-geared ones. He also helped me figure out that I can study what I want (in this case, the prison system) from many different angles, not just Political Science. Although I was scared at first, there was something really freeing about exploring a major that I never thought I would pursue.  

The rest of my freshman year

I spent the rest of my freshman year exploring other classes. What’s cool about the liberal arts requirements is that they force you outside your comfort zone to try new classes in new departments. I had never considered majoring in American Studies or History before, mostly because I didn’t know much about the departments, but taking new classes opened my eyes to a whole host of majors that I never would have experienced otherwise. 

Talking to upperclassmen

Any chance I have, I try to talk to people about their major. My go-to questions are: “Do you like it? Why did you choose it? What advice would you have for someone wanting to major in it?” It’s conversations like these that have really helped me figure out where I want to be. And at Carleton, everyone loves talking about their majors. Even if you don’t know anyone in your prospective major, there will always be someone you know who is willing to reach out to you. 

The week I declared! 

In all honesty, I did not think about my major much while I was abroad in London. Coming back and having to declare in the first week was really stressful for me. I felt so much pressure to declare the perfect major right away. It took talking to my history professor to help me make my decision. She confirmed that I could pursue everything I’m interested in within the department, and reminded me that this is not a permanent decision. I can always change within this term or the next if I really feel like I want to study something else. 

The reveal…

And so, it’s probably no surprise to any of you that I declared a History major. It’s the department that I felt like I really connected with, and also sets me up for a potential career in law. I realized that I was comparing the major to my experiences in high school, where history was almost exclusively focused on memorization and tests. Instead, the history major at Carleton is much more focused on discussion, research and writing. 

Advice

So for anyone else out there struggling with commitment anxiety or overwhelm, I want you to know this secret: there’s no wrong choice. I could have been happy in any of the majors I was considering. I am definitely glad I declared history, though, and I’m really excited about continuing to take classes in the department and eventually doing my comps. Whether you’ve stuck with something since day one or changed your mind yesterday, there’s no right way to declare a major. Your major declaration should be a happy experience, not an anxiety-inducing one. Trust that you will find the right major for yourself within time. 

Kate (she/her) is a sophomore from the Bay Area, California. She loves Carleton’s artsy community, and is involved in both the Theater and Dance department and Vocal Studies Program. Kate’s favorite places on campus are the practice rooms, either in Myers or the Weitz, where she is often making music with her friends. When not in class, you can find Kate either walking in the arb or forcing her friends to watch bad movies in a study room.