My Experience Being Undeclared at UNH
Is it okay to be undeclared in college? What is life like in college? Welcome back to our Student Spotlight series, where you can meet real UNH students, see campus through their eyes and learn more about why they love UNH. Meet Ella Tartsa '25, an anthropology and justice studies dual major with a minor in forensics, and learn more about all the support resources that exist for undeclared students at UNH and all the fun memories that await you in college.
My friends and I at the Wildcat statue on the last night of our freshman year
How did you choose your major?
I came to UNH undeclared and completely unsure of what I wanted to study. After finding out about the justice studies dual major that UNH offers, I began to try and find a main major that I could pair with it. After taking Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, I finally found something that really interested me and I decided to declare my main major as anthropology. Through taking classes for justice studies and anthropology, I was able to easily pick up a minor in forensics.
Did you have any fears or anxieties about being undeclared?
At first, I felt as though I would be behind other students as an undeclared freshman. It was daunting having to choose a major. Having friends taking courses that specifically related to their studies made me feel as though my indecisiveness was going to set me back a lot. Talking to other older students who had been undeclared when they first came to UNH helped me realize that it is okay to not have everything figured out right away. In hindsight, I had nothing to worry about. I am graduating a year early despite coming to UNH undeclared.
Ella Tartsa '25
What excited you about being undeclared?
It was both exciting and nerve-racking to have so many major options to choose from. The ability to take some extra time to figure out what I wanted to study was definitely helpful for me. Coming in undeclared allowed me to learn more about what UNH had to offer before committing to a particular major.
If you could go back in time, what would you tell yourself while you were undeclared?
I would tell myself that it is okay to be unsure about the future. Even now, looking ahead, I find myself uneasy looking at what is to come and not knowing exactly what I am going to end up doing. So, I would tell myself back then to take deep breaths and that everything will fall into place and work out!
UNH College of Liberal Arts (COLA) fellows
How were you supported at UNH while undeclared?
The COLA Undeclared Advising Seminar had a positive impact on me while I was undeclared. I enjoyed the guest speakers that came in and talked about how choosing a major isn’t a do-or-die situation. In fact, many of them said that their majors were useful and educational, but that they did not use their specific majors in their careers at the end of the day. This made me feel a lot less stressed about choosing a major. The undeclared friends that I made in that seminar class also made me feel less alone in being undeclared, which was comforting to me.
Digging on campus in my archaeology class
What is your favorite memory from a class at UNH?
I loved the hands-on learning we did in Professor Meghan Howey’s Method and Theory in Archaeology class. In this class, we got the opportunity to dig on campus and uncover historical artifacts that helped us learn about some of the campus’s history. It was so fun having a class where I could be outside for three hours, chat with my classmates and get dirty.
My friends and I watching the solar eclipse on campus
What is your favorite fun memory from your time so far at UNH?
My favorite fun memory from UNH was the solar eclipse last year. Seeing the entire campus alive and so excited to watch the eclipse was heartwarming. Teachers cancelled classes or brought their students outside to watch. The special solar eclipse glasses were so sought-after that it took ages to finally get a pair. I thought this moment really brought the campus together and I will always remember it when I think of my time at UNH.
related posts:
My Journey as an Undeclared Student
Though Felicia was initially worried about not having everything figured out, she soon learned that being undeclared gave her the opportunity to explore lots of different classes and that UNH is full of welcoming communities, like the Club Softball team and a group of friends who are always here for her no matter what. read more about Felicia
