With the help of the ASPIRE Undeclared program, Rebecca Molin ’20 went from being undeclared to double majoring in business management and marketing.
Undeclared? Try Unstoppable.
When it comes to being a successful athlete, accomplishing goals is the name of the game. For Rebecca Molin ’20, her sense of purpose is strongest on the soccer field. As the goalie for the women’s soccer team at Elms, she has racked up 130 saves over the past two years — and she’s looking forward to adding to that tally in 2018.
Like many college freshmen, though, Rebecca didn’t find her academic passion quite so easily, at least not at first.
“Honestly, it was a little intimidating being undeclared,” said the West Hartford, CT, native. “At first I thought that everyone already knew what they wanted to do.”
For freshmen unsure about what they want to major in, Elms created the ASPIRE Undeclared program, which is dedicated to helping students confidently select the major that’s right for them.
If you’re feeling less than confident about selecting a major, fear not — there are plenty of resources available to you to help make the process less stressful.
Asking the Right Questions
Undeclared students get extra face time with Brian Kapinos, the director of advising at Elms, by taking IDS 103, a class that he teaches every fall semester. Classroom activities get students out of their desks and into the hum of campus life, guiding them with prompts like “meet with a program advisor” or “have lunch with a former undeclared student.”
Getting paired up with a peer mentor is also part of ASPIRE Connect, the branch of the program that gives sophomores, juniors, and seniors the chance to volunteer and meet with incoming students. Having the chance to talk about one of the more challenging aspects of college goes a long way, Rebecca said.
“I met with a business student, and we met up in the cafeteria,” she said. “I got to ask her a bunch of questions about the business program here and the classes she took.”
Asking questions was Rebecca’s recipe for success. It not only helped her find her entrepreneurial side and decide to double major in management and marketing, but it also showed her what she didn’t want to do.
“You just need to keep an open mind,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The only way I found out that I didn’t want to go into the medical field was by asking those questions.”
“That’s how I was able to steer myself in a better direction,” she added.
Full Speed Ahead
Once Rebecca had her majors sorted out, everything else fell into place.
“It’s so easy to be involved in so many different things here, and still get your work done,” she said. “For me, it was the small class sizes. I personally needed that.”
Even with graduation a couple of years away, Rebecca said she’s considering following in her dad’s footsteps, and starting her own business. Her entrepreneurial spirit isn’t confined just to the classroom, though — it even spills over into her life as an athlete.
“Sometimes on the buses, when we drive home, all the girls will just be doing their homework,” she said with a laugh. “We always get it done, one way or another.”
No matter what interests you, Elms has the perfect major to set you on a fulfilling career path. Unsure of what you want to do? That’s okay, too.