Matthew McCarthy \u201920 (CLAS), seated right, speaks to a student about pursuing a philosophy major. McCarthy is interested in how philosophy can be incorporated in city design. (Nicholas Hampton '19 (CLAS)\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n
Out of more than 110 majors offered at UConn, more than 50 set up tables and displays, staffed by faculty, staff, and students, in the Student Union Ballroom on Wednesday, creating an interactive catalogue that enabled attendees to connect with each major\u2019s content in a way that is impossible through a screen or page.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving so many UConn majors, departments, schools, and colleges available in one space makes it easier for students to explore,\u201d said Julie Lynch, academic advisor in the Academic Center for Exploratory Students (ACES) and coordinator of the Major Fair. \u201cIt\u2019s nice for students to talk to other students who are in the major they might be interested in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew McCarthy \u201920 (CLAS), a philosophy major, co-hosted a table with associate professor of philosophy Thomas Bontly. McCarthy\u2019s pitch was equal parts informative and persuasive.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhilosophy is something that\u2019s applicable to multiple different disciplines,” he said. “It\u2019s a way of thinking about the world in a logical, thought-out way. You can really apply that to anything, whether it\u2019s business, law, or finance. It\u2019s a very flexible major.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCarthy plans to incorporate his interests into city planning and design.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really interested in how philosophy can be incorporated with city design, ethically, and when talking about the environment,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are a lot of important questions now about how we should design cities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mariah Santana \u201921 (CLAS), a psychological sciences major considering a double minor in accounting and American Sign Language (ASL) studies, originally planned to pursue a single major in accounting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually decided on a whim to take [American] Sign Language this semester,” she said.\u00a0“I\u2019m a few months in and fell in love with it instantly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Santana was one of many students who reveled in the fact that they could add on to their initial pursuits through double majors and minors.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing able to take so many things at once is definitely a mind-opening experience. I\u2019m so excited to just dive into everything, learn more about the parts of the brain, learn more about Deaf culture,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd maybe those two will correlate and help me when I\u2019m going into my CPA and other life endeavors.\u201d<\/p>\n
First-year student Kimoya Wallace \u201922 (CLAS), a biological sciences major, said she came to the fair looking for a major tailored to her specific interests within biology.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m mainly interested in human body-focused majors like physiology and neurobiology and molecular and cell biology, because I\u2019m pre-med,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Biomedical engineering major Maxwell Landolina \u201922 (ENG) said he chose his major because he has always welcomed a challenge, but he welcomed the opportunity blend multiple majors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to go pre-med, but not necessarily the normal way,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m thinking about doing a language, too. French, or Spanish, or Portuguese \u2026 I don\u2019t know yet. I can\u2019t choose!\u201d<\/p>\n
About 85 percent of UConn and CLAS graduates report successful employment, continued education, or service; and the post-graduation benefits of a multidisciplinary education are not lost on Landolina.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it gives you an advantage, especially with pre-med and applying [to schools]. You can show that you have a diversity of interests,\u201d he said. “It\u2019s a real big step up.”<\/p>\n
Many of the students in attendance were undeclared or in ACES, the flagship UConn advising program that helps students explore UConn programs and complete program requirements.<\/p>\n
Johnson Hoang \u201922 (ACES) said he came to the fair in search of a way to channel his interests into a major and minor that are the perfect fit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am interested in science, but I\u2019m also interested in English, and generally those two don\u2019t mix. But coming here I found a lot of overlap that really applies to both,\u201d he said. \u201cI can actually do what I want to do while I\u2019m in college and not just go into \u2018cookie cutter\u2019 majors. I don\u2019t have to just do biology \u2013 I can do all these other fun things.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked to choose his top pick of a major, Hoang was hard-pressed to choose among the breadth of options.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust one? I\u2019ll give you my top three! English, Spanish, and an individualized major in science,\u201d he said. He noted that he would love to participate in an education abroad experience in Grenada that coincides with pre-health.<\/p>\n
Adrienne Bruce \u201922 (CLAS), a Chinese major, said she came to the fair looking to personalize her major and discover other options. She said being able to incorporate multiple areas of study is important to her:\u00a0\u201cI think it\u2019s really special because it\u2019s unique to you, it\u2019s unique to your path and what you want to do in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
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