There’s nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can’t see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
—Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
UVA doesn’t have a Sorting Hat to assign your major, but you can be your own Sorting Hat! However, instead of asking yourself if you’re brave, ambitious, loyal or curious, ask yourself what you like to study. Do you find yourself writing poetry in the margins of your notebooks? Is sports marketing your favorite class? Have you memorized everything related to the Renaissance? Does math just make sense? Or maybe you enjoy something completely different! Your interests are unique to you.
You have a lot of time to determine any and all of your interests. Some people know right away what they want to study, while others may prefer to explore different options before they settle on an area. Sometimes it’s easier to think of things you don’t like instead of one or two areas you do like. There’s no one right way to explore your interests and there are lots of ways to discover what you want to major in! Those include:
- Taking a class in an area you’ve never studied
- Thinking about what your favorite classes have in common
- Having an internship
- Volunteering
- Talking to an older friend, teacher, or parent
- Thinking about your long-term goals
- Reading articles and books about different subjects
- Taking personality quizzes
Students at UVA generally have until the end of their first or second year before they have to declare a major. Incoming first years only need to have a general idea of what they like, so you have time!
All majors have certain requirements to fulfill in order to obtain a degree. These requirements can be as specific as certain classes you have to take or as broad as anything with the department label. All requirements are listed on the department’s website. It’s a good idea to research the different requirements before declaring a major so you know what you’re signing up for.
An important thing to remember, though, is that as you get older your interests may change.
Chemistry may be your favorite class now, but when you get to college you might find yourself enthralled by sociology or literature.
A lot of students who come to UVA end up majoring in something they had never previously indicated or something they hadn’t realized they were that interested in. Stay open to new opportunities because you never know where your interests may lead.