From undeclared to graduation

As a high school senior, Kara Turner was eager to tell anyone who asked about her college plans that she'd soon be a proud Blue Hen. It was just their follow-up question she dreaded.

When people inquired about her major, Turner chose the same as her brother: biology. But when she heard her classmates happily discuss futures in medicine or as researchers, she quickly realized she didn't feel the same.

Turner is not alone. Nationally, 20% to 50% of students begin college undeclared. Within three years of initial enrollment, about 30% of undergraduates with a declared major in an associate's or bachelor's degree program change their major at least once - and about 1 in 10 students changed majors more than once, according to Adrian McCleary, director of University Studies (UST) and student support programs.

At UD, students don't navigate this uncertainty on their own. The UST program supports students exploring majors or transitioning between them.

In the past year, the University's UST advisers supported more than 1,080 students who entered UD undeclared, changed majors or transitioned between majors during the fall and spring. This included more than 2,500 appointments, both scheduled and drop-in, along with individualized advising about academic planning, the option of drop-in appointments, workshops and other resources for students throughout the academic year.

For Turner, one-on-one mentorship and advice came from Sarah Hutnick, a UST academic advisor.

"We had lots of conversations about my interests and goals," Turner said. "Sarah encouraged me to take breadth requirements while I explored different majors. One of my favorite classes was a Women's Studies class on sex trafficking."

The advice worked. After her sophomore year, Turner decided to double major in finance and business analytics.