Some US institutions asking students to declare general academic major before arriving on campus

“Flitting from subject to subject before alighting reluctantly on a major during junior year? That is discouraged,” writes Alexander C. Kakfka in an article highlighting how some US college systems are asking students to choose a general “meta-major” area of study before even arriving on campus. Proponents of this approach argue that it is important to help a student narrow their area of academic focus early in their academic studies “before choice paralysis kicks in.” These proponents also point to research suggesting that students often need—and welcome—intensive guidance to help them find their academic focus. Chronicle of Higher Education (Subscription Required) (International)