Office of Academic Advising

Exploratory Experience

 

It’s very common for first year students to begin college without selecting a major and many students will even change their major (more than once!) before graduation. Many of our students fall somewhere between having too many ideas to choose just one major or feeling completely unsure of where to start. If you find yourself somewhere on that scale, your advisor at New Paltz is ready to support you on your journey to major declaration.

Students who are undeclared, or as we like to say, EXPLORING, can become a member of a school or college that best aligns with your exploring interests. Students without a major can choose to be one of the following undeclared majors:

We also recognize that some students may not want to commit to one of the options listed above. Those students may want to explore options that overlap into more than one area. We’ve got you covered! You will simply be considered Undeclared – Exploring!

Along with intentional advisement and course selection, students who are exploring are encouraged to:

  • Meet with a Career Specialist in the Career Resource Center to define their career goals and learn about what New Paltz alum are doing with their degree after graduation.
  • Attend sponsored events and get involved with extracurricular activities on campus to learn from others.
  • Meet with faculty and build relationships with other students connected with the school or college. It’s going to be so beneficial to get your questions answered and gain important insight from the experts!

Have questions? Please reach out to us in the Office of Academic Advising to get more information.