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StudentI Know My College, But Not My Major
I know my college, but not my major
Beginning or returning to college is one of the most life-changing decisions you can make. Students select a transfer institution for many different reasons – location, size, cost, majors, to name a few.

But just as important as deciding “where” you will study is determining “what” you will study. With the assistance of an academic counselor and by doing some research, you can start to narrow your choices and find a fit that is just right for you.

Step 1: Ask a transfer academic advisor at your institution to assist you in planning your future transfer. Transfer advisors specialize in assisting students with selecting a major, knowing transfer credit exceptions, and helping students register for courses.
Step 2: Work with your academic advisor to choose a major. For additional help, consider these options:
  • Read the list of tips available at Choosing a Major.
  • Examine and self-assess your abilities, career and life goals, interests, and values. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What kind of skills do you have? What subject areas do you like? What do you value in work – security, stability, pace, working alone or with groups, etc.?
  • Visit CollegeBoard's Major & Career Profiles to explore college majors.
  • Participate in career fairs, co-ops, and internships.
  • Talk to faculty and college/department representatives and to people in the work world about programs and their related career outlooks/prospects. Ask yourself, “What can I do with this major?”
  • Visit universities’ websites, browse their catalogs and use other Internet resources designed to help you choose a major and career. The Princeton Review and Collegeboard.com have information to help you find majors, colleges, graduate institutions and careers that are right for you.
  • Access The Occupational Outlook Handbook, a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. The handbook is located on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website (http://www.bls.gov/oco/).
Step 3: When selecting courses for transfer when you don’t have a major, the best place to start is by reviewing the Transfer Credit Framework and selecting courses that you know will transfer to any of the participating institutions in PA.

Review these courses with your academic advisor and then register.

Step 4: Check the Transfer Equivalency List to search for courses that are required in programs at both your current and transfer institutions.

Step 5: After you understand how courses will transfer, register.
Step 6: After you complete your semester’s coursework, create a Course History in PA TRAC.

To learn how courses you have already taken transfer to Participating Institutions , create an Equivalency Map.
 
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institutions.
 
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Transfer Tip: It is important to remember that each transfer institution makes the final determination of how many and which credits transfer. Credits that transferred to a previous institution may or may not transfer and count toward a degree at another institution. The only way to know for sure is to ask your academic counselor or advisor and get it in writing.
 
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