Choosing a Major

Choosing a major is often a stumbling block for sophomores due to the many majors offered and the approaching deadlines.

Declaring your major

Begin by talking with your advisor about your major during the first three blocks of your sophomore year. You will need to declare your major by February 1 so the sooner you meet with your advisor the better prepared you will be.
If you already know what you want to major in, you don’t have to wait until February 1 to declare your major. You can declare your major any time before February by submitting your major declaration card with the Registrar.

Build a personal relationship with your advisor. Your advisor is there not only for bidding classes and academics; they desire to get to know you as a person.
Keep in mind that the better your advisor knows you, the better they can help you with your academic curriculum at Cornell. In addition, having your advisor really know you can help them write a stronger letter of recommendation for you down the road for graduate school, professional school, or job applications.

Your advisor is a wealth of information about choosing and declaring majors; ask them lots of questions to help you make an informed decision about majors and potential career paths.
Keep your advisor informed on your changing academic interests. Often your advisor can recommend people on and off campus who can help you meet your needs and interests.
Your advisor is knowledgeable about prerequisite classes. Make sure to talk with your advisor about which classes you should take to fulfill a prerequisite for upper-division courses.
Remember to talk with your advisor about completing all of the BA/BM/BSS requirements in an orderly manner. If you don’t fulfill all of the degree requirements in addition to your major requirements, you will not be able to graduate on time.

	Choosing the right advisor for you
	You can change your advisor! If your advisor is not an advisor in your major interest area, request a Change of Advisor Form from the Registrar. It’s as simple as that and faculty members want you to have an advisor that can help you be successful. Select an advisor who matches your interests. For example, a Religion major should have a Religion faculty member as their academic advisor.