Choose a Major
Some students have always known what they want to major in and a year at college has done nothing to shake that conviction. Many, however, either never fixed on a particular academic field or had ideas that have changed since they came to Washington University. If this is where you now find yourself, then sophomore year will be a time for finding your academic focus. You still have time to make up your mind—or change your mind—about what to major in, but it is critical that you work actively on figuring out your core intellectual interests.
A Major, Not a Career
Choosing a particular department to major in does not dictate your career path. Picking a certain career does not dictate your major. It is important to distinguish between the two.
In choosing a major, focus on finding topics and issues that you really care about and want to explore in depth. You are much better off pursuing your interests than trying to pick a major that will “guarantee” a job. The work you do in a major—any major—are the skills that you will be offering a future employer. You are much more likely to do well and learn the necessary skills of reading and thinking analytically and researching and writing effectively in courses in which you’re genuinely interested, in a major that you have a real passion for, than in courses you think might “look good” to someone down the road.
A Process, Not an Epiphany
Selecting a major will require some serious thought and exploration on your part and no one can do it for you. We can, however, help by giving you some ideas of how to define your interests and discover the right academic fit for you. Here are some tactics to try:
Declaring a Major
The deadline to declare a major is Sophomore Convocation, February 19, 2008—but if you already know what you want to major in, declare it immediately. The sooner you declare, the sooner you will get the advantage of guidance from your major advisor. To declare a major, pick up from the College Office the form titled “Declaration of Prime or Second Major,” and follow the instructions on the form.
ACADEMIC PROGRESS
While thinking about your major, don’t lose sight of other academic responsibilities.
Credits
You should normally have 60 units of credit by the start of your junior year, and must have 57 units completed to register as a junior that fall.
Retakes
If you did particularly poorly in a class, you may be thinking of retaking the course. This may make sense but the effect of retaking a course can be easily overestimated. Here are some things to consider before deciding to retake a course:
If you do choose to retake a course, get the retake form from the College Office and have it signed by the previous instructor BEFORE you retake the course.
Intellectual Challenges
A complete education in Arts and Sciences involves ongoing exploration of intellectual horizons beyond the major and beyond what is comfortable. Cultivate your appreciation of arts and literature, deepen your knowledge of history, science and current events, and expose yourself to unfamiliar cultures and perspectives. In doing so, you will not only satisfy distribution requirements, you will be stretching yourself in ways that will enrich you for the rest of your life.

"It's amazing what a push in the right direction can do. My advisers in the College of Arts & Sciences have helped me take what I'm interested in and turn that into something worthwhile that I can pursue."