Advising Undeclared Students

Undecided or undeclared students are an estimated one-third to one-half of the population of incoming students enrolling in colleges and universities each year. At the University of Texas at Austin the numbers are between 1300-1500 incoming first-year students who begin as “Undeclared.” Additionally, more than 65% of students change their major at least once. That means that most of the students who claim to be decided will change their mind.

The central purpose for an academic advisor working with undecided students is helping them through the exploration process. Advisors need to have a strong understanding of the process of exploration itself. It is important to keep in mind the various external (guidance counselors, parents, peers, advisors, and institutional environments) and internal pressures students often feel to decide early while engaged in learning about majors and how those programs connect to possible careers.

Academic advisors must also be knowledgeable about their responsibilities in the process, and how they can help facilitate exploration for the student. Although the process in not necessarily a linear one, there are tasks that an advisor can do, to encourage, challenge, and support a student to investigate their options and eventually decide upon a program of study.

Students often come to college with some misperceptions about majors as well as the process of choosing a major. They might be worried about choosing the “wrong” major, or believing that they need to declare biology for a major in order to pursue medical school, both of which are incorrect assumptions. At the same time, advisors must also be aware of their own myths and misconceptions of undeclared students and the exploratory advising process.

May you find some benefit from what we have included on our website, and of course, best of luck in advising your undeclared, undecided, exploring students.