Jon is a junior in the University Studies Program who will soon be switching to Mathematics. He is a Blue Hen Ambassador (“I love giving tours!”) and is a part of the newly formed Varsity Esports program (“The new arena is very cool!”). Jon also recently helped the UST staff with our virtual Decision Day presentations.

Describe your process for choosing your current major/majors of interest. Were there any resources you utilized to help you?

Meeting with my advisor was by far and away the most useful part of the process to find my current major. Having the opportunity to sit down and discuss my interests and what I felt I was truly passionate about really helped me find a path that I wanted to follow for my major. The courses that I took during my journey to find a major were another big factor that pointed me towards certain majors and away from others.

What advice do you have for new or prospective UST students?

Don’t worry about being a University Studies student. You’re part of one of the best programs on campus! In the beginning, you still have the opportunity to take the same courses that you would be taking even in a specific major, so don’t feel too discouraged about not being a part of that major. Also, at the same time, you have some of the best resources that can be found on campus on hand!

What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first started at UD?

I wish I could go back and tell myself that everyone I find on campus is here to help. The times where I found myself struggling trying to figure things out on my own could have been so easily avoided if I had just simply asked someone else for their help or input. There are resources for any sort of problem or concern that you would or could have during your time here, and they are all here to help YOU!

Kennedy is one the UST Peer Liaisons and currently a sophomore majoring in English with an interest in healthcare management. Last summer she enjoyed her time as a research intern with Community Outreach. She has also done job shadowing to help her with her career decision-making.

Describe your process for choosing your current major of interest. Were there any resources you utilized to help you?

Choosing a major has been a tough process for me, but I wouldn’t change the way I went about my decisions. The career center has definitely been a great resource with tests geared to finding out more about who I am!

What advice do you have for new or prospective UST students?

It is okay to not know! You should really allow yourself to try new things and different classes to know more about yourself.

What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first started at UD?

Something that I know now that I wish I knew was that going into college no one really has everything figured out! We are all going through the most transformative experiences of our lives.

What’s something that you use as an outlet or escape when everything gets tough?

Mine is to journal. I journal and write everything I’m thinking about even if it doesn’t make sense!

Callie is a junior majoring in Communication with a concentration in Media Communication. She is also a former UST student and a current UST peer liaison. She is from Baltimore, MD, and in her free time loves to create art and cook. Additionally, she enjoys binge-watching TV shows on Netflix. “Most recently I watched the series ‘YOU’ and loved it!”

Describe your process for choosing your current major/majors of interest. Were there any resources you utilized to help you?

When I first came to college I was sure that I wanted to be a marketing major. Quickly as I started to learn more about business classes I noticed that they were very math-heavy. It was then that I made the decision to move forward with communications, and I couldn’t be happier. This was all thanks to the help of Adrian McCleary, who guided me during my major selection.

What are you involved in outside of the classroom?

Outside of the classroom I am involved with UDress and Rent the Runway. I am very passionate about both of these organizations and love to talk about my experience with them. Additionally, I am a social media manager for a medical spa.

What advice do you have for new or prospective UST students?

Trust your gut and know when something feels right and something doesn’t. I think oftentimes when we first get to college we put too much pressure on ourselves to find the right major that will make us most “successful”. I think it’s important to know what your interests are and being open to change when it comes about.

Claire is a former UST student, who is now a Junior in the Nursing program. She enjoys painting, especially oil painting, and her artwork has been commissioned by different people and organizations. She is holding an original piece in her photo.

Describe your process for choosing your current major. Were there any resources you utilized to help you?

After being enrolled in an allied health course in high school where I participated in clinical, I knew I wanted to be a nurse. Mrs. Goldman (my UST advisor) was always very helpful when putting together my schedule, advocating for me, and giving me all the resources I needed. I wouldn’t be in the nursing program today if it wasn’t for Mrs. Goldman’s call to me last winter telling to submit a change of major after 5 spots had opened up within the program.

What is your dream job and are you on a path to achieve it?

My dream job is to become a labor and delivery or pediatric nurse. Being within the nursing program at UD allows this dream job to become a reality in a few years.

What advice do you have for new or prospective UST students?

If you are passionate about a specific career path of major, don’t let others tell you it’s not possible. If I had listened to all of those who had told me I was never going to make it into the nursing major, then I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Isabella is a sophomore majoring in Geography with a concentration in Geospatial Techniques and working towards a certification in Geospatial Information Systems (GIS). Outside of class, she is a member of Epsilon Eta, a gender-inclusive professional fraternity that focuses on bringing awareness to the environment while propelling professionalism. She also enjoys taking photographs, engaging in the local community, and hanging out with friends.

Describe your process for choosing your current major/majors of interest. Were there any resources you utilized to help you?

Coming to UD, I had a vague idea of what I might want to major in, but I mostly felt lost. I had multiple advisor meetings, where we just chatted about how my ideas could translate into a major. I also used Handshake to see how different majors could translate into different jobs.

What did you find most helpful when picking out your major?

When picking out my major, my advisor recommended me taking a couple of classes that would relate to my major. After I took GEOG101, I realized that this is what I really enjoy, and I could see myself majoring in geography.

What is your dream job and are you on a path to achieve it?

As of right now, I would like to work with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and/or USGS (United States Geological Survey) doing either land management or environmental protection.

What advice do you have for new or prospective UST students?

Being a UST student can be overwhelming at times, due to the pressure that you need to pick a major ASAP to catch up with your peers; however, the reality is that even people who have majors probably don’t know what they want to do. Therefore, take the time in the UST program to explore different paths. You might even surprise yourself. Also, don’t be afraid to talk with advisors and peer liaisons; we are here to help!