According to the New York Times, more than 70 percent of the graduating High School classes of 2009 were enrolled in college Fall 2010. This is the highest percentage on record and the rate has been rapidly increasing for decades. The increasing number of college enrollees is best due to the rising unemployment rate and increasing credentials, the evaluation of a person based on educational qualifications. But the interesting part of college enrollment is the number of people who apply without any idea of what they want to do, and prolong declaring a major so it extends their stay in college.

At N.C . State, the 4-year graduation rate wavers just around 40 percent. The 6-year graduation rate is much higher, around 70 percent—but in-state tuition has raised to nearly $6,500, almost double what it was a decade ago, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.

The numbers show that more students may be enrolling in college right out of high school, but these students are also staying in college longer because they do not know what they want to do.

An undergraduate major is important for many reasons, but it is mostly important because it dictates the amount of time it takes a student to graduate. Many freshmen believe if they declare a major they are unsure about, they will be on their way to a path that may change and prolong their graduation. The truth is that most people who pick a major when they apply simply pick a major, and may or may not stick to it.

Picking a major is better than applying undecided because it gives one’s education direction. When someone is undecided, they are trying out basic classes they will likely need for each major, but these basic classes are uncharacteristic of any major. Basic classes like English 101 or Math 103 will fulfill requirements, but will not help students gain any further idea of what they want to major in, or what they want to do.

First Year College is designed to help undecided freshman to decide on a major. Though their services are helpful and the community supportive, the best thing a freshman can do is pick a major they have some interest in and try it out.

A certain teacher at my high school gave the best college advice I have ever received. He told us we will all likely start out with an idea of what we want to do. But then we’ll take some class—philosophy, religious studies, biology or something else—and realize we have a passion for it. We’ll change our majors as soon as possible only to realize the career we want to pursue doesn’t even need the degree. In sum, the teacher told us our college major doesn’t really matter that much. What matters is that we went to college and that we gained the knowledge needed for the real world, and that we have a college degree.

Many professions don’t require a degree in paper science or chemical engineering. For many professions, just a degree is good enough. Someone who majors in physics is just as eligible for law school as someone who majors in political science. Many professional degrees are open to a variety of majors if not all. The point of college is the experience and knowledge gained regardless of what major one pursues.

Each major has a variety of career options, and deciding on a major early can save tuition money and years without direction. College freshman who are undecided should find a major they are interested in as soon as possible and start pursuing it. The major may change, but any major is better than no major.