When I first came to Arcadia, I had chosen a different major than the one I have currently. I enrolled as a Politics, Government, and Law major, and planned to minor in English. I was interested in international relations and politics, especially after taking Comparative Government and Politics in high school, but I have always had a love of reading and writing, so I wished to incorporate those aspects into my college academics as well.
As I navigated my first semester, I realized how much I loved the community, class options, and opportunities within the English department. So, I made the bold decision to declare English as my second major. While this seemed like a good idea at the time, realizing the commitment that I needed to have in order to be a double major seemed a bit daunting, especially with my long list of extracurriculars including playing on Arcadia’s softball team, being in the Honors Program, and planning to study abroad. Before long, I again made a switch. This time, I declared English to be my sole major, with Political Science as my minor. Hopefully, this one will stick.
You have time to discover your greatest strengths and interests, and explore the many options that Arcadia has available.
– Madi Costigan
I am a prime example of someone who did not have it all figured out, and I still don’t. But I did learn that declaring a major is not a be-all end-all decision in college. You have time to discover your greatest strengths and interests, and explore the many options that Arcadia has available. You might not pick the best major for you on your first try, and although making a change to your academic and future plans can be intimidating and or be seen as a setback, it is not something to shy away from.
Taking that step allowed me to feel more confident and fulfilled in my college experience. I have now found a major and minor combination that is fit for me and will give me the opportunity to be satisfied with where I go and what I choose to do in the future.
