Choosing a Major at UCLA: My Winding (but Rewarding) Journey
Source: https://blog.admissions.ucla.edu/2025/06/09/choosing-a-major-at-ucla-my-winding-but-rewarding-journey/ Parent: https://blog.admissions.ucla.edu/
Hello everyone! My name is Fonda, and I’m a fourth-year Mathematics/Economics student here at UCLA, originally from San Jose, CA. As you begin thinking about your next steps, one of the most important decisions ahead is selecting your major—a choice that’s both exciting and, at times, slightly nerve-wracking. Think of it like picking a TV show to watch: so many options, not enough time, and way too many recommendations from well-meaning friends.
UCLA offers more than 140 majors and 100 minors across a vast range of disciplines. In this list, you’ll find the familiar—biology, English, economics—but also programs you may not have encountered before, such as Scandinavian languages and culture or engineering geology. There truly is something for everyone, whether you’re aiming to become a physician, a policy analyst, a filmmaker, or someone who can finally explain quantum computing at dinner parties.
Each major is housed within an academic department, and every department provides access to academic counselors who are there to guide you. These individuals are invaluable; they can help you chart your academic path, make sense of course requirements, and—importantly—gently steer you away from attempting Chem 14A and LS7A in the same quarter (a decision often followed by caffeine-fueled regret).
And here’s the good news: you’re not expected to have everything figured out on day one. Among first-year students completing a four-year degree, many take time—sometimes a year or more—before settling on the right major, which is comfortably within the two-year time frame provided by the university to decide on the degree stamped on their diploma upon graduation. This process is flexible, and changing your mind is not only allowed, it’s expected.
When I arrived at UCLA, I was convinced I had my academic journey mapped out. I declared a major in Economics, and I also considered adding Global Studies, since I enjoyed thinking about international flows of goods, people, and culture. However, as I moved through my first few quarters, I began to feel that something was missing from my education. While I appreciated the theoretical and policy aspects of economics, I found myself craving more mathematical depth—more problem-solving, more structure, more of the “why” behind the numbers.
After some reflection (and more than a few long walks around campus), I discovered the Mathematics/Economics major—a hybrid program that offered both quantitative rigor and real-world application. It was challenging, yes, but also deeply satisfying. It felt like I had finally found a major that matched the way I thought and learned.
Changing my academic trajectory wasn’t easy—it required planning, advising, and letting go of the idea that I had to “stick to the plan.” But in the end, that shift made my time at UCLA much more meaningful and intellectually fulfilling.
I wanted to pass on a few lessons I learned, based on my own experience and the wisdom I’ve gathered from classmates navigating their own academic journey:
- Explore widely at the beginning. Your first few quarters are a fantastic time to explore. Take classes that pique your curiosity—even if they don’t seem “practical.” I once enrolled in a hydrology course and now know more about the impact of ocean acidification on crabs than I ever expected. No regrets.
- Talk to people. Reach out to academic counselors, professors, and older students. Ask them what they enjoy about their fields, what surprised them, and what they wish they’d known earlier. Most people are more than happy to share advice— and a few cautionary tales.
- Pay attention to what energizes you. Which assignments do you actually look forward to? What kinds of questions keep you thinking long after class ends? These are clues worth following.
- Don’t be afraid to change direction. Many of us do. Changing your major isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a sign that you’re learning more about yourself, your interests, and how you want to engage with the world.
- Don’t choose a major based solely on prestige. Choose one that challenges and excites you. The world needs engineers and writers, scientists and historians, coders and poets. There’s no single “right” path to success or fulfillment.
Looking back, I’m grateful that I allowed myself the space to reflect and reroute when things didn’t feel quite right. Your major won’t define you, but it can help you develop the tools, habits, and ways of thinking that will shape how you approach problems and make decisions beyond college. For me, Mathematics/Economics struck that perfect balance between logic and application, structure and flexibility. It wasn’t the major I expected to pursue, but it turned out to be exactly what I needed.
If you’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed, you’re not alone—and you’re not behind. College is a time for discovery, experimentation, and growth. You’ll figure things out as you go, and UCLA offers an abundance of resources and people ready to support you along the way.
Be open to new experiences, ask questions often, and remember: your path doesn’t have to be linear to be meaningful. Welcome to UCLA, and I sincerely wish you all the best on this next chapter of your journey.
Professional photo of Fonda.
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