Exploring Students
It's OK!
Walt Disney started as a newspaper editor. Elvis Costello was a computer programmer. Ellen DeGeneres worked as a paralegal. Martha Stewart was a stockbroker.
What do you want to do with your life? What will you study at college?
Young people hear these questions often. Some people know early on what career calls them, but a great number travel a less direct route. Theirs is a journey of discovery, both of the world and of themselves. Studies show nearly three-quarters of college first year students either enter college without a major or will change their major before the end of their sophomore year. Many first-year students feel pressure to declare a major, but if you're not quite certain which path is yours, we have some advice-- It's Ok.
Welcome!
Here at Elizabethtown, we welcome the exploring student.
By definition, exploring means to "traverse for the purpose of discovery...to look into closely; to scrutinize and examine." As educators, we encourage our students to discover and examine and search-- not just within a class's scope but in the wider realm of understanding who we are, our values and our roles within society. At Elizabethtown, we are committed to assisting the exploring student as they search for the best fit among our 45 majors, 108 minors/concentrations, and 29 cooperative programs with other institutions. And as you navigate your choices, you will have access to a wide variety of resources, some of which include:
- A First Year Seminar Program geared specifically for the needs of exploring students.
- Department Open House meetings where students are invited to meet and talk with faculty from various departments.
- A Career Development Center where students can receive personalized career counseling not just in the exploring phase but throughout their college years.
- Experiential learning opportunities in the form of Internships, which will provide you with the opportunity to network, learn valuable skills, and understand the work environment.
- Work with a strengths coach to discover and develop your personal strengths in order to maximize your potential.
- Alumni networking opportunities to facilitate shadowing or mentoring relationships in interesting career fields.
- Students who do not declare a major in the spring of their first year will work with specialized advisors to explore scheduling options and fields of interest.
Ready, Set, Declare!
And when you think you are ready to declare your major, we will be there to talk you through the process and help you make the transition to your selected field of study.