Brown - What should I major in?

Brown University has a ton of majors, and I'm overwhelmed. How did you guys decide what to major in? Any ideas or tips for narrowing down my options? I have broad interests right now—they range from history to biology.

It sounds like you're in the exploration stage, which is a good place to be. When deciding what to major in, it can be helpful to reflect on what courses or topics you've enjoyed most in high school, and where your passions lie outside of academics. For example, if you loved your AP Biology class and spend your free time reading books on historical events, maybe there's a way to meld your interests.

Brown offers an interdisciplinary program known as Independent Concentration (IC) where students can create their own major if their academic goals cannot be achieved within an existing department or program. If you're passionate about how history has impacted biological development, for example, there might be a potential for you to create an IC around this concept.

Another tip is to look around and identify problems in the world that you want to solve. Your choice of major can equip you with the skills necessary to tackle those issues. Furthermore, consider your long-term career goals. If you have a specific job or industry in mind, research what majors typically lead to that path.

Use your first semesters at Brown as a trial and error period. Take some classes across disciplines. Brown’s open curriculum, which doesn't require a core set of classes but encourages exploration, fits great with this approach. You could take a History of Medicine course to blend your interest in both fields, and see whether it piques your interest or not.

You might also try reaching out to professors or upperclassmen in different disciplines and ask them why they chose their field of study or what they like about it.

Remember that your choice of major isn't the end-all-be-all, and many people work in fields completely different from what they studied in college. It's about gaining a range of skills and experiences to apply to your future endeavors. Stay flexible and keep an open mind—you never know where your academic journey may lead!