2008 Woodie Awards
Indecisive students can't pick a major according to census
Jeffrey Mendoza
Issue date: 11/9/06 Section: Campus
- Page 1 of 1
A census taken in 2005 on majors by their popularity proves that at Bakersfield College, the most popular major isn't really a major at all.
It is actually "undeclared" for most of these college students who can't seem to decide what they want to be when they grow up. Undeclared made the top of the list with 17.9 percent of 14,548 students surveyed on campus.
Following on the list was registered nursing with 9.1 percent. However, it appears as though students may be coming to college with more direction.
Previous surveys taken in 2003 and 2004 show that Bakersfield College's most popular major has become slightly less popular than the years before.
Undeclared dropped about 10 percent from 2003. (Approximately 9.89 percent)
The list is varied from major to major, but the fact still remains that not everyone on campus is completely sure what purpose they want to serve."Ever since I was a little kid I liked to design houses," said architecture major Kamie Fernando, "I want my own company, and to have my own employees, people who work for me, so that way we could build more houses."
When asked about his opinion on the fact that most of BC's students are undeclared, BC president William Andrews was not surprised. "Students first coming to BC need to explore their careers," said Andrews.
"On the other hand, it would be ideal if every student coming to BC knew what they wanted to major in and stayed with it until the completion of their degree."
Fabian Vega, 18, who is currently undeclared says, "I'm thinking about doing architecture."
When asked how he felt about how BC's biggest major being undeclared Fabian replied, "It's just a shock."
Educational advisor Lakesha Ray has been at BC for two years and said that the reason for so many undeclared students may be the schools online registration system.
"They might be unfamiliar with all the majors we have to offer," said Ray. "I believe that when they do their update form in the system they never change the undeclared status to the major they have selected."
As an adviser, Lakesha would like to let students know, "the best way to determine a major is to utilize the counseling services on campus, and/or out career center to assist them in declaring a major."
It is actually "undeclared" for most of these college students who can't seem to decide what they want to be when they grow up. Undeclared made the top of the list with 17.9 percent of 14,548 students surveyed on campus.
Following on the list was registered nursing with 9.1 percent. However, it appears as though students may be coming to college with more direction.
Previous surveys taken in 2003 and 2004 show that Bakersfield College's most popular major has become slightly less popular than the years before.
Undeclared dropped about 10 percent from 2003. (Approximately 9.89 percent)
The list is varied from major to major, but the fact still remains that not everyone on campus is completely sure what purpose they want to serve."Ever since I was a little kid I liked to design houses," said architecture major Kamie Fernando, "I want my own company, and to have my own employees, people who work for me, so that way we could build more houses."
When asked about his opinion on the fact that most of BC's students are undeclared, BC president William Andrews was not surprised. "Students first coming to BC need to explore their careers," said Andrews.
"On the other hand, it would be ideal if every student coming to BC knew what they wanted to major in and stayed with it until the completion of their degree."
Fabian Vega, 18, who is currently undeclared says, "I'm thinking about doing architecture."
When asked how he felt about how BC's biggest major being undeclared Fabian replied, "It's just a shock."
Educational advisor Lakesha Ray has been at BC for two years and said that the reason for so many undeclared students may be the schools online registration system.
"They might be unfamiliar with all the majors we have to offer," said Ray. "I believe that when they do their update form in the system they never change the undeclared status to the major they have selected."
As an adviser, Lakesha would like to let students know, "the best way to determine a major is to utilize the counseling services on campus, and/or out career center to assist them in declaring a major."
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