Types of Exploratory Students

    All exploratory students are not alike.  They may be:

• completely undecided (25%)
• tentatively undecided (50%) --- have a couple of ideas about a major but need time and information before deciding
• uncommitted undecided (25%) --- have made a tentative choice but be unwilling to commit

    Others choose a major when they apply to SRU but are only tentatively decided and need to confirm that decision.  Others make decisions prematurely by making choices that are unrealistic or uninteresting to them.  Since estimates are that 70% of all students change their major at least once before graduating, almost all students need the same academic and career exploration services that exploratory students need.

    A number of studies have shown that exploratory students are no different from students who have declared majors (Midstate, p. 433 and p5.276, from Gordon, 1981; Ohio State, p. 65).

Correlates of Indecision

Closely related to the issue of undecidedness are the following concerns:

• Data seeking orientation --- Students may need information on which to base a decision.  They often need a realistic basis for making judgments.  
• Self-identified concerns --- Some do not feel pressure to make an academic or career choice, but are more interested in self-discovery.
• Multiplicity of interests --- Many exploratory students have a lot of ideas about a major.  These possibilities compete for consideration.
• Anxiety --- Some are uncomfortable about being undecided.
• Humanitarian orientation --- Sometimes students feel the need to choose majors that benefit society.  Many have an interest in the social sciences and humanities but do not know how to direct that interest (Ohio State, p. 65, from Apple, Haak, & Witzke, 1970).