The following was written Cyrus Sadeghian, a college professor of biology and DoD STEM Ambassador. DoD STEM Ambassadors work with the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) to advance STEM outreach for students who are underrepresented in STEM or military connected. Sadeghian was selected by Prince George's Community College as its DoD STEM Ambassador for the 2023-2024 school year.

Are you preparing to go to college? The process can be quite involved, especially for busy high school seniors. There are many components to plan for, such as course mapping and financial preparation, and your checklist of tasks will likely be spread across different offices with multiple points of contact. Plus, it's mostly up to you to navigate it all!

Don't worry! There are plenty of people and resources to help you stay organized. This includes me. I went through the trials and tribulations of entering college not too long ago, and as a community college professor I frequently work with freshman students. So, I have compiled a list of issues and hurdles that tend to be most common, and I've proposed some solutions.

Problem #1: "I don't know what I want to study."

While choosing a major may seem daunting, it's actually an exciting opportunity! If you have absolutely no clue what you want to study, I strongly recommend not picking something just for the sake of declaring a major. When you do this, you risk wasting time and money taking classes for a major that you may (and likely will) end up changing. Reports from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Chronicle of Higher Education report that anywhere between 30% and 40% of college students change their major at least once. And that's perfectly normal! It takes a fair amount of trial and error to determine what you're passionate about. I recommend sampling general education courses that interest you for a semester. This way you can accomplish two things:

1. You can take classes that count toward your degree plan, because general education requirements are ubiquitous across most college majors.
2. You will have the opportunity to gauge your overall interest in multiple academic fields and gain a better understanding of yourself.

Academics prepare you for a career, which is an integral part of life. So it’s vitally important that you like what you do—or at the very least, that you care enough about it to get you out of bed in the morning.

Problem #2: “I’m ready to [or already have] declared my major, but I don’t know what classes to take.”

I have seen firsthand the problems students face after receiving poor academic advising or just no advising at all. As mentioned earlier, this wastes precious time and money. First, do not choose courses without making sure the class fits into your degree plan. If you’re even slightly unsure, email or make an appointment with your advisor. With that said, every college has degree course checklists of some kind present on their websites. However, they can be difficult to find. When you are ready to declare a major, take a moment to find the list of courses for that major on the college website. This may take some savvy search skills, because not all college websites are created equal. Once you find these requirements, save a copy as a document if possible, or print it out. From there, check every course you have taken, and make a plan for taking future courses. Be mindful of prerequisites! You can also make this plan during a scheduled appointment with your college advisor. Following these steps can ensure that your graduation isn’t significantly delayed for avoidable reasons.

Problem #3: “I am worried about the cost of college.”

I hear you. Over the past few decades, college costs have far outpaced inflation, placing higher education increasingly out of reach for many Americans. As a result, students and their families are forced to take on significant debt to finance their education, often leading to financial strain and long-term economic repercussions. I’ll dispense with the obvious spiel on scholarships and financial aid, as I’m sure you have exhausted those options. My advice is to take a realistic approach to college. If funds are tight and you want to minimize the amount of student debt you incur, please consider these simple options:

1. Avoid out-of-state schools unless necessary, or you get significant scholarship money to attend. Believe me, I get the allure, I really do. But attending an out-of-state school has become a luxury. You’re paying a 100% to 200% markup with minimal added benefit, and that doesn’t include living costs. I know—it’s very unfair. You shouldn’t be priced out of the school of your dreams. But it’s simply not worth it.
2. Consider attending community college, which presents the best opportunity for gaining a college education at the most affordable cost. Community colleges provide a high-quality education, and employers most certainly view attending a community college as a valid educational path. Your credits will transfer to most public colleges, or you may even find a career path supported by an associate’s (2-year) degree.
3. If it’s not a priority to live on or near campus, commute to school to avoid room and board costs. Yes, learning to live on your own is an important skill, and there is no denying the convenience, networking opportunities, and community involvement that comes with living on campus. However, if your goal is to save as much money as possible and commuting is feasible, then please consider it.

Remember that there are many advisors, professors, and other people willing to help you navigate college. Make the effort to reach out to them! Simply put, if you are unsure about something, investigate it before making any important decisions. Reach out to advisors and instructors. They are there for you.