Tips for Freshman Studies Students

Choosing a major may still feel like a risk. You may be thinking, “How do I know whether this is right for me?” Remember that the most successful people take risks! This is not about choosing something that you will have to do for the rest of your life; it’s about finding a starting point.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin the process:

Doing research before you make a decision will help you considerably.

• Generate options and alternatives.
• Familiarize yourself with what Ole Miss has to offer.
• Narrow down your options.
• Check the University catalog’s A-Z website to view the list of all of the majors available to you.
• Think about past classes. Which have you enjoyed? What was it that you enjoyed about what you were learning or the work you were doing in the class?
• Rule things out.
• Talk to other students in majors that interest you.
• Spend some time on the Explore Careers page.

Build transferable skills throughout college by getting involved. Transferable skills are typically skills considered as not specifically related to a particular job, task, academic discipline, or area of knowledge. Transferable skills can be used in a wide variety of situations and work settings, e.g., how to organize, how to problem solve, etc. Transferable skills are sometimes called soft skills.

Re-evaluate periodically. Your goals may change over time.

Keep your GPA strong. Position yourself to apply for the program of your choice. It doesn’t take long to wreck a GPA, but it takes a long time to rebuild one.  Go to class, do the work, study, and do your best in every class you take.