FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

	Will the FOCUS program tell me what to major in? No one can tell you what to major in; you must decide for yourself. The FOCUS Program will provide you with lots of information to help you make that decision. The Program gives you information about major and minor areas of study at the College and helps you explore those majors and related career paths. FOCUS helps you identify your career interests, values and personality, which can lead to the discovery of a career and a resulting academic major. Your instructors and your academic advisor will talk to you about major choice, answer any questions you may have and steer you toward additional resources. Will I declare a major by the end of the FOCUS Program? The selection of a major is a very personal process. The length of time it takes to make an informed decision varies for each individual. The aim of the FOCUS Program is to provide you with information to help you choose your major, not to choose it for you. Some students choose their majors by the end of the FOCUS Program and others do not. Still others come to a decision while they are in the program. At Marist College, you must declare a major by the end of your sophomore year, so you have lots of time to explore and come to a decision. As a FOCUS student will my freshman year be different from everyone else’s? FOCUS students take general Marist courses; therefore, to a large extent, your freshman year will be like everyone else’s. However, former FOCUS students have indicated that they felt much better informed than those not in the program about major and minors, the CORE requirements and foundation courses, the course registration process and various campus resources. Should I enroll in FOCUS if I am pretty sure what I want to major in? FOCUS is for any undeclared student who wishes to acquire information and support to make an informed major choice. I am uncertain about my declared major; will the FOCUS Program help me? No, declared majors will not be accepted into the FOCUS Program, but they can make use of the Center for Career Services and their academic advisors to explore their uncertainty. However, if you change your major to undeclared before Freshman Orientation in June, you are eligible to apply for admission to the FOCUS Program. Can only freshmen be in FOCUS? Yes. FOCUS is a program for undeclared freshmen who enter during the fall semester. Will participation in the FOCUS Program help me to get into classes for majors I am considering? No. The FOCUS Program is an exploration program designed to help students select a major. FOCUS students receive no preference for registering into courses in the major programs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will the FOCUS program tell me what to major in?

No one can tell you what to major in; you must decide for yourself. The FOCUS Program will provide you with lots of information to help you make that decision. The Program gives you information about major and minor areas of study at the College and helps you explore those majors and related career paths. FOCUS helps you identify your career interests, values and personality, which can lead to the discovery of a career and a resulting academic major. Your instructors and your academic advisor will talk to you about major choice, answer any questions you may have and steer you toward additional resources.

Will I declare a major by the end of the FOCUS Program?

The selection of a major is a very personal process. The length of time it takes to make an informed decision varies for each individual. The aim of the FOCUS Program is to provide you with information to help you choose your major, not to choose it for you. Some students choose their majors by the end of the FOCUS Program and others do not. Still others come to a decision while they are in the program. At Marist College, you must declare a major by the end of your sophomore year, so you have lots of time to explore and come to a decision.

As a FOCUS student will my freshman year be different from everyone else’s?

FOCUS students take general Marist courses; therefore, to a large extent, your freshman year will be like everyone else’s. However, former FOCUS students have indicated that they felt much better informed than those not in the program about major and minors, the CORE requirements and foundation courses, the course registration process and various campus resources.

Should I enroll in FOCUS if I am pretty sure what I want to major in?

FOCUS is for any undeclared student who wishes to acquire information and support to make an informed major choice.

I am uncertain about my declared major; will the FOCUS Program help me?

No, declared majors will not be accepted into the FOCUS Program, but they can make use of the Center for Career Services and their academic advisors to explore their uncertainty. However, if you change your major to undeclared before Freshman Orientation in June, you are eligible to apply for admission to the FOCUS Program.

Can only freshmen be in FOCUS?

Yes. FOCUS is a program for undeclared freshmen who enter during the fall semester.

Will participation in the FOCUS Program help me to get into classes for majors I am considering?

No. The FOCUS Program is an exploration program designed to help students select a major. FOCUS students receive no preference for registering into courses in the major programs.