[NABS-L] National scholarship and undecided about major

[Johna Wright]

Hey Mikayla!

I was a national scholarship winner in 2016 and there were a couple of people in my class who were undecided about their majors. I think what they did was listed the major as “undecided”, and focused on the one or two career goals they were most strongly considering. In their essays, they talked about how the college experience would help them flesh out their plans as they get involved in different areas and explore different paths. The committee members aren’t as concerned about your major as your involvement and leadership potential. 

Also, please don’t feel discouraged about not knowing what you want to do with your life yet. I am a senior in college and have changed my major/concentration multiple times (education to pre-med to pre-law to psychology) and I just got into a grad program that has absolutely nothing to do with any of that stuff (international affairs)! That’s the super cool part about college — you can explore courses and careers you didn’t even know existed or that you thought you hated. I would definitely not let an undecided major deter you from applying for the scholarship at all, because from my experience you’ll have just as good of a chance of receiving it. Good luck with everything and always feel free to reach out to me if you need anything! 

Cheers, 

Johna Wright
Board Member | National Association of Blind Students
A proud division of the National Federation of the Blind 
johnawright98 at gmail.com
(706) 962-2613
www.nabslink.org

> On Dec 27, 2019, at 17:43, Mikayla Gephart via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
>     I hope you are having a restful break from school and a happy holiday. 
> 
>     I am working on my application for the national scholarship, which will be the first major scholarship I have applied to receive. However, I am still undecided about my major and career goals. I went to college planning on majoring in Child Development and becoming a teacher, but am now changing course. I am a little nervous, because when I read about the scholarship winners in the Braille Monitor, they all seem to know their major or career goals. Would it look better if I share the major and career goal I am strongly considering now, or write undecided and list all the majors and career goals I am currently considering. Also, has anyone on here gotten a scholarship after putting “undecided” on their essay? One of the most frustrating thing so far in college has been that most freshmen seem to know exactly what they are planning on studying. I am just afraid that the committee will read my list of possible majors and the word “undecided”, and have concerns about giving me the scholarship. Thank you for any help.
> 
> Mikayla
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