Major fair helps students explore options
From cello performance majors to undeclared students, the eighth annual University Advising major fair, open to all students and visitors who are interested, takes place Friday, Oct. 14 in the International Lounge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Our objective is to inform undeclared students of the majors we offer here at USU, as well as degree options and to also inform students of different minors,” said Academic Adviser Deborah Reece. “We also want to help declared students who may be questioning their major.”
The major fair began in 2003 after the idea was brought up at an advising conference.
“It helps students to know what is available to them and what resources there are,” Reece said. “It’s another way to reach out to them.”
The fair will be organized in such a way that students are able to browse the areas they want to learn more about, and booths are grouped together according to respective colleges, she added.
Jennifer Luther, an undeclared freshman, said, “I’m hoping the major fair will help me gain a better understanding of the jobs and opportunities in the world, as well as just getting more information. Maybe there will be majors that spark my imagination that I didn’t know existed.”
Michael Torrens, the director of the Analysis, Assesment and Accreditation Office, said there were 2,733 undeclared freshmen combined from all USU campuses, by the end of the third week of the fall 2011 semester.
“That represents about 9.4 percent of the student body,” he said.
“We also want students that are in a declared major that may want to find a minor to attend.” Reece said.
Reece also said she’s seen a successful attendance at the fair in the past and hopes to see numbers increase. “We do our best to advertise and spread the word,” Reece said.
There will be free popcorn and door prizes, and freshman students get a stamp on their Aggie Passport.
Reece offered several pointers for students who are looking for a field of study.
“Come and visit the University Advising Office. Make an appointment. We have a lot of resources to help students out, like career services,” she said. “We help students narrow things down and figure out what they like to do.”
Reece said the university offers approximately 178 different majors as well as 102 minors.
Reece also said this is a good opportunity for students to explore different options for the future and it is a “really great resource.”
One of the main reasons for attending a university is to get an education, Reece said, and eventually students must decide what to earn a degree in.
“You just need to find something you’re passionate about,” Luther said, “something that will make you happy and will make your schoolwork enjoyable.”
Statistics from the Office of Analysis, Assessment, and Accreditation show the most popular major at USU, in terms of degrees rewarded, is economics, with elementary education coming in second and communication disorders and deaf education third.
“So come to the major fair,” Reece said, “We want to help students as much as we can and help them know what is available.”
After attending the major fair students are encouraged to visit the University Advising Office for further help and resources.
– amber.murdoch@aggiemail.usu.edu