exploratory faqs

Versión en español de Preguntas frecuentes exploratorias

Q: What is Universal Tracking and what do I need to know about it?
A: The most frequently asked questions about Universal Tracking are answered in the Undergraduate Catalog. Please visit an academic advisor in your college if you have any specific questions about your progress in your major and your status as determined by Universal Tracking.

Q: I do not like the major I am currently in. Can I change it?
A: Yes, under certain conditions. You must meet with an academic advisor in the colleges that house any other majors you are considering. Your academic record will be evaluated to determine if you meet the Critical Tracking criteria for admission into the intended major. Realistically, the more credits you’ve accumulated, the more challenging it can be to change. However, advisors you meet with can still help you figure out alternate paths to get you where you want to go.

Q: Where can I find contact information for the different advising offices?
A: Each college has academic advisors available to discuss different options available to you in their college and to discuss your academic plans and progress toward any of their programs.

For more information about Academic Advising across the UF campus go to http://www.ufadvising.ufl.edu.

If you would like to speak with an advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences specifically, please visit our home page for information on how to access advising services.

Q: Where can I go for help in choosing my major?
A: There are numerous resources for students on campus to assist them in choosing a major. Please look at the information we have throughout our website to help you in your decision-making process. Also visit the Career Connection Center on the first floor of the Reitz Union.

Q: I really like a particular major, but I’m concerned about my career options once I graduate. What do you suggest?
A: Speak to professors and advisors in those departments and even see if the Career Connections Center can help you connect with alumni who graduated with that major to learn about how they’re using it. Please keep in mind that a particular major does not necessarily equal your career choice. Potential employers are looking not only at your field of study, but at your previous experience and the skills you can bring as a new employee. Therefore, you may want to consider getting an internship to earn practical experience in a field or join an organization that will help you develop and refine communication, leadership, and teamwork skills. It is very important to find out what you do enjoy studying, as that is the type of major you will likely be most successful in pursuing.

Q: What major is suggested for students who wish to pursue medical or law school in the future?
A: There is no specific major that medical or law schools prefer. Students should pick a major which is of interest to them and explore the careers which are possible with that major, just in case medical or law school does not work out.

• Information for Pre-Law
• Information for Pre-Health

Versión en español de Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre Posibles Estudiantes Exploratorios

Exploratory Family Guide, (PDF, 639 KB)
Versión en español de Documento Exploratorio para Familias, (PDF, 96 KB)

What does it mean to declare “exploratory” on my admissions application?
To declare “exploratory” is to give yourself a little more freedom to test out courses in different disciplines your first few semesters. At UF, once you declare a major, you have to take specific courses in a specific order in order to be on-track for that major. By declaring “exploratory”, you can decide on a much more interdisciplinary selection of courses that allows you to learn about different academic fields. Students can be exploratory up to their first three fall/spring semesters (or first three spring/summer semesters if IA) before they have to declare a major. By the way, many students who THINK they know their majors starting out, end up changing their minds. In fact, 61% of UF students change majors within their first two years!

Does being exploratory affect my academic progress in any way?
According to past graduation data, UF students averaged 8.7 fall/spring semesters to graduate. Students within the same class who specifically started out as exploratory averaged 8.6 semesters to graduate. Overlapping requirements and transferable credits help make this possible. Very often, the courses for one major will serve as General Education credits for another major, so exploratory students are still making progress towards fulfilling degree requirements. Besides, students can always use summers to get caught up or ahead (or fall semesters, if IA).

What are some recommended steps a first semester exploratory student should take?
Here are some suggestions: Take CHOMP, the Career Connections Center’s “Career Help or Major Planning” assessment; enroll in Exploratory Roadmaps, a free, self-paced collection of activities and accompanying resources that guide you through the process of finding a major; talk to professors whose classes you’re enjoying to find out more about their fields; get involved on campus to start networking with other students and talking to them about the majors they’re pursuing; browse the Undergraduate Catalog.

I’m not sure about my major, but I know I want to go to law school or medical school. What do you recommend?
There are no specific majors that medical or law schools prefer. Medical schools require specific pre-requisite courses, but students pursuing any major can decide to take those courses. Visit UF’s pre-health advising website for more information.

Pre-law students don’t even have specific pre-requisite courses to take but instead are advised to look for majors that help them develop skills such as critical thinking, analytical reasoning and communication. In general, students should pick a major that interests them as that interest will tend to reflect in their grades.

I was admitted to UF through the PaCE program. Can I start out exploratory?
Yes! As with all exploratory students, you will need to declare a major by then end of your third term of enrollment. Because you also have to declare a major before you transition to campus, you want to make sure you’re testing out the courses that will make you eligible for any of the PaCE majors you might be considering.