Advisor’s Perspective: Path from Undeclared to Undeclared

I didn’t declare my major until my first day of junior year at UConn. I tried out a few different types of classes during my first four semesters while patiently waiting for my life’s calling to unveil itself. When asked what I was going to major in, I would respond with a disgruntled “I have no idea”, but when asked what my favorite subject was, I was quick to answer “psychology”. I had taken at least one psychology course every semester and loved what I was learning in those classes, but I had no interest in becoming a psychologist. I didn’t even stop to think about what other jobs a psychology major could lead to. I was stuck in the mindset that major = career, and it was this mindset that kept me from declaring my major in Psychology for so long.

It can be easy to forget that declaring a major is really just the first step in figuring out plans for life after college. I thought that declaring my major would feel like a big momentous occasion and that my life’s problems would forever be solved. Instead, everything felt the same. I had a major, but I didn’t know what to do with it. And so the exploration continued- but this time, the exploration was happening outside of the classroom.

I had a work-study job at the UConn Career Services office which led into my role as a Peer Career Advisor (PCA). As a PCA, I conducted resume critiques and provided cover letter assistance to fellow students. In my weekly meetings with my supervisor, I would talk about how much I loved being a PCA. She helped me parse out what I loved about it- not critiquing resumes necessarily, but more generally working one-on-one with students. It was through these conversations that I learned about graduate programs focused on higher education administration and student affairs, leading me to apply for jobs at universities that could support my graduate education.

If you told the eighteen year old Sara that she would become an academic advisor for undeclared students, she would be very confused. My path has been more like a series of zig-zags than a straight line, but I think that’s what makes it interesting. I love working with Explore students because they are open-minded, curious, driven, and enthusiastic. To current and prospective Explore students, my advice is to engage in and trust this process. Who knows… maybe you’ll be the next Explore Program Advisor!

By: Sara Leavitt