By Megan G. Razzetti
East Los Angeles College will require incoming students to declare a major upon completion of 15 associate degree applicable units starting fall 2015.
This is completely unfair for not only new students, but students who currently attend ELAC simply because people change their minds.
As a part of SB 1456 or the Student Success Act of 2012 implemented by California Community Colleges, incoming students will be allowed to take at least 15 degree applicable units before they must declare a major.
According to the ELAC fall 2014 counseling news brief, approximately 60 percent of new students are undeclared.
ELAC has a wide variety of educational options and students can explore interests on academic and creative levels.
These options help students choose a major to pursue or even obtain a vocational certificate.
When filling in an application, some universities require incoming students to declare a major right away– why should a community college do the same?
A community college is a place where students can explore different majors without university pricing and without the pressure of having to pick a path right away.
There are also students with degrees sitting alongside new students in classes because they are not satisfied with the field they chose to major in.
As a 25-year-old college student, I can’t help but reflect on my own experience as an incoming college student, completely indecisive of what to major in.
I started out interested in the performing arts, going as far as auditioning for a performing arts school, to finally sticking with journalism at ELAC. I changed my major three times while attending three different schools.
The conflict of majoring in what would bring in money versus a major whose future is uncertain weighed on my mind.
Some students at ELAC know what it is like to feel unsure of where they want their futures to lead.
An incoming high school graduate should not have to immediately decide what kind of career path they need to follow after taking the 15 degree applicable units.
It is a decision that can impact students for the rest of their lives, even if they choose to follow through with landing a job in the field they chose at 18 years old.
ELAC has guided me and other students in the right direction. Enforcing a time limit on students will create an unsupportive environment for those trying to find their way.
Instead of enforcing this kind of rule upon students, legislation should encourage students to explore different fields before deciding, so they are not stuck in a career in the future they don’t enjoy.