The price tag of your undeclared major

The "undeclared major" status cost more than you can expect.  If you come to find out that in the US it takes an average of 6 years to complete a 4-year degree, the "undeclared major" is in the top 8 of the most commonly reported majors in college (among the 38 most popular majors), and that the average cost of a 3-credit course in a public college for in-state residents is around $700 dollars, you can do the simple math:

Undeclared Major = 1 year while figuring it out (or more)

One year in college under an "Undeclared Major" =$22,261.00 Average College Budget per year (Source: College Board)

Undeclared Major potential loss = 1/3 of classes taken

1/3 Average College Budget per year (public college- state residents) = 7,420.33 dollars

That's without adding the time you can never recover.

According to a recent College Board report, the College Budget for an in-state public college for the 2012-2013 academic year was an average of $22,261.00 dollars, while a private college averaged $ 43,289.00 dollars.  (College Budget cost includes tuition, fees, books, housing, meals, and school supplies)

Just the average cost of tuition and fees during 2012-2013 school year for in-state public colleges was $8,655.00 dollars, $21,706.00 dollars for public colleges out-of-state residents, and $29,056.00 dollars for private colleges.

Once you finally get around to figuring out, by trial and error, the career path you should have taken when you originally enrolled in college, you expect to lose several general education classes in the process, as they do not longer apply to your real career path.  The current average cost of a 3-credit course in public colleges varies between $700.00 to $1900.00 dollars.  It could be as much as $2,700.00 dollars for private colleges.

What can you do at this point:

1. Get professional advice from a career counselor or a career coach that has time to provide you with individualized attention, you want an uninterested party to assist you. (It will cost you much less than the cost of one 3-credit course)

2. Set a clear goal regarding the time-line as to when you plan to have your degree

3. Identify the real time allowance you can allocate for school purposes

4. Stop thinking that it is enough to just attend college.  Education is a tool to get you to the beginning of your professional career, not a final destination.

5. Remember that the time and money you invest in your education is directly related to the average earnings you expect to have in the long run.

6. Do not procrastinate; college spring enrollment is less than 90 days away.

Written by; Veriuska Corso, BS, CDMS, CPDM, CDF- Vocational Consultant and Career Planner.  Capital Voc Consulting

 Resources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, College Board, National Center of Education Statistics, FAFSA.

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