Beth Spencer, Ph.D.
How can you know whether a major is a good fit?
As a transfer student, you likely have already completed your “core” classes and will now be enrolling in the courses specific to your major. Transfer students often face additional challenges, however, due to the nature of transfer credits. :
- Become familiar with your major’s academic program.
Understanding the prerequisites, sequences, and suggested scheduling of courses can help you get an idea of how majors and courses work at Tech and will go a long way in helping you to be be successful in your major. You should know the number of electives your major offers, what type of senior or capstone project is required, and whether you can choose a concentration, cluster, or participate in options like the International Plan. You should also know what transfer credits you have from your previous institution, how courses transferred, and if any courses did not transfer and why.
- Visit your program’s website.
You can gather much of this type of information from the Tech websites, but you should also take advantage of opportunities to talk to others about majors.
- Meet with advisors, mentors, and program ambassadors.
Academic advisors, peer mentors or program ambassadors, faculty, career counselors, alumni, and other students are great resources for determining whether a major is the right one for you. There are several questions listed at the end of this section to help you start these conversations.
- Map your major.
Your GT 2000 instructor may assign a “major mapping” activity, but all students can benefit from the process of drafting a 4- or 5-year plan to complete their major, especially if they then share and review it with an academic advisor.
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