With the 2024-2025 academic school year coming to an end and graduation quickly approaching, the Milestone interviewed many McNicholas students of the Class of 2025 to determine whether most seniors are going undecided, establishing a major, or going into a trade program.
Academic counselor Mrs. Amanda Duffy said, “We have a lot of students that go into business. I think that is one of the bigger ones.” Duffy also included that many of her students are expressing interest in majors such as nursing and psychology, but she also noted that there are a large majority of students still undecided. Academic counselor Mrs. Margaret Vonderhaar said, “We have a large number of students that are interested in something medical. And that can encompass a premed, nursing, physical therapy and many others.”
Senior Liz Cheevers said she wants to go into something medical because there are so many different career options. Vonderhaar said the reason for these being common could be that it’s what they’re interested in doing as their career, they have a personal experience connected to it, or they have family members who are in those fields. Vonderhaar said, “I think family has a big influence; that’s what the student knows.” Senior Jack Brinck, who plans on becoming an electrician, said, “My uncle is an electrician, and it seemed like something I would want to do.”
Vonderhaar said, “Most of mine are establishing a major. I don’t have a lot that have said they’re going undecided.” Duffy said, “Mine started out wanting to establish a major but then found it easier to get into the schools of choice by going undecided.” Duffy also included, “It’s getting harder to get into certain areas [majors], and I think going undecided is a beautiful way to get there.” Vonderhaar added, “We experienced what Mrs. Duffy is referring to this year with Miami. Students wanted to get into Miami’s business school, and I think pretty much everyone at first got deferred. We contacted Miami and learned that if students change their major to a different major then they could transfer into the college of business.”
Duffy and Vonderhaar said the colleges they see most often include University of Cincinnati, Ohio State University, University of Dayton, Miami University, Ohio University. Vonderhaar said, “This year I think a lot of our students are branching out a little more. I think last year if you look at the graduation program it was a lot of UC and local colleges. But this year, probably since Covid, students are expanding their horizons.” Duffy said, “We only have about 30 students who have communicated with us that they are committed to a university,” and Vonderhaar said that even through this is a stressful time, “somehow it just always falls into place.”
Vonderhaar said there are a few who decide not to go to the college route. She said, “We do have some students that just go straight into the work force, military, or pursue something like a trade. I would say there are very few who do this, but we will support our students in whatever they want to do.” Duffy added, “College is not for everyone, and we [academic counselors] understand that.” Senior Riley Heyman said she wanted to pursue cosmetology because, “I knew I didn’t want to go to college, and I’ve always loved doing my hair.”
If students are unsure of what they want to major in, Vonderhaar said there is “no harm in going undecided or establishing a broad major [such as psychology] that encompasses a lot of different career paths.” Vonderhaar also recommends doing some research on potential career options, job shadows, visiting a college’s programs, and talking with people who are in different careers. Vonderhaar said, “Generally it’s very easy to change your major, and it’s common to switch majors.”
Senior Evelyn Hurlburt said she was “encouraged to establish a major because it’s easy to switch, and I knew I wanted to go into something with biology. So, my parents and teachers told me to pick something in that area.” Senior Lucy Laudemann said, “I’m establishing a major in communications and media because there’s a bunch of different jobs you can do with it, and I’m not quite sure what I want to do after college, so it gives me the opportunity to still have time to pick.”
The McNicholas Milestone 