With 78 undergraduate majors to choose from, selecting a major can be difficult.  The University of Arkansas has six undergraduate schools – the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life SciencesFay Jones School of Architecture and DesignJ. William Fulbright College of Arts and SciencesSam M. Walton College of BusinessCollege of Education and Health Professions, and College of Engineering. Selina, a junior at the University of Arkansas, double majoring in Biology and German gives us a look into how she selected her majors.

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Since I was little, I have been interested in the world around me and why things are the way they are. It was my high school biology teacher, who confirmed for me that biology was something that I would like to study. Having a fascination in the field of biology and wanting to pursue a career in physical therapy, a biology major was the perfect fit. It allows me to study something I like, while helping me prepare for my future. Classes such as chemistry, physics, and upper-level biology classes are often required by physical therapy schools, which a biology major helps fulfill. It has been difficult at times combining the two majors—along with various physical therapy school requirements—into a four-year plan, but so far it seems like everything will work out!

The reason I chose to add German as a major, is that my mother is from Germany and I was born there myself. Growing up in a bilingual household, I wanted to keep speaking and learning German in college. I also wanted to study abroad in Germany, which I knew could help me complete the required classes for a German major. I was able to study abroad in Regensburg, Germany Spring 2015 and have furthered my knowledge of German literature and culture. I am currently finishing up the last of my German major requirements by taking courses with a global perspective. I am currently in History of Sub-Saharan African and plan on taking Intro to Islam in the fall. It has been very fascinating furthering my knowledge about cultures and subjects I know little about.

Something one should be aware of when choosing a science major, is that you will be required to take a fair amount of labs. Often you will have multiple labs in one semester which can be quite time consuming, so planning your time and being organized is important. Labs are beneficial in that they help you gain a deeper understanding of the material you are covering in lecture. To help you get an overview of what kinds of classes you will be required to take, it is helpful to look up the UARK requirements for a B.S. or B.A. in Biology (or whatever your major of interest is). It will list the university and core requirements that are need to be taken in order to graduate.

Something I really encourage new students to do, is to find a good advisor that will help you throughout your time at the University of Arkansas and meet to meet with them every semester. Even if you are a very good planner, your advisor can give you tips that will make your life so much easier! They are experts in that particular major and will know what classes you should avoid taking at the same time and can tell you whether or not your schedule is too ambitious. Advisors can also help you adjust your four-year plan if there are updates in the catalog.

If you are planning on going to graduate school, also meet with an advisor who has knowledge in the field or career you would like to pursue. I, for example, meet with an advisor that helps pre-professional students. The future can be overwhelming, so it is good to talk with someone about how to achieve your goals and the best way to prepare. There are so many great faculty members and professors on campus, so let them help you!