Class of 2022 graduates offer advice on choosing a major
To incoming students or current students who are struggling to find where they belong at Binghamton University, you are not alone.
Picking a major can be difficult, and often it seems as if your entire future is resting on this decision. But with five undergraduate schools or colleges and an array of majors, minors and concentrations to choose from, it’s nearly impossible for your passion to remain undiscovered.
Class of 2022 graduating seniors from five of Binghamton’s schools offer insight into their experiences and how they went about choosing their path.
THOMAS J. WATSON COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE
Name: Joseph Apollo
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Wantagh, N.Y.
QUESTION: How did you first become interested in engineering?
ANSWER: I honestly didn’t even know what engineering was going into my senior year of high school. Because my dad was an engineer and I was naturally gifted in math and science, I decided it would be the right path. I gave it some more thought when I started at Binghamton, and I finally learned what true engineering was: problem-solving. I thought back on all the times I’ve solved problems and how much I enjoyed it, and I knew it was right for me.
Q: What were your experiences like at Watson College?
A: They were definitely grueling, but worth it. The classwork was extremely hard from the first year through senior year, and it meant 3 a.m. nights grinding to finish homework. The amount of material we were required to learn and apply was enormous, but it taught me the most important skill for an engineer, which is the ability to problem-solve. In addition, all of the friends I made through the years and the relationships I’ve created with professors are amazing, and I wouldn’t trade it for a second.
Q: Are there any specific courses or professors that stand out to you?
A: Kirill Zaychik and Kenneth McLeod. Zaychik, a lecturer in mechanical engineering, was the clear-cut best at preparing students for the real world. During the three classes that I had with him, I remember hearing him answer questions (whether in lecture, office hours or emails) that showed me what the real engineering world would be like, which many students don’t have much knowledge of. I had Professor McLeod for Project Management, and not only was the material extremely engaging in a topic that requires more soft skills, but he was an engaging professor overall and knew how to keep students’ attention, which I loved.
Q: What advice would you give to students who are undecided?
A: See it for yourself. I am a huge proponent of not knowing what you like unless you’ve tried it. The only reason I know what path I’m going down right now is because I tried three different internships coupled with various projects from the engineering curriculum. I’ve found what I love and hate, and I proceeded with my career with that knowledge. In order to take the full advantage of this, you also need to be able to ask questions, too. Don’t be afraid to ask advisors, upperclassman, professors, parents or others for help. We love being asked for help and want the opportunity to do so.
DECKER COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES
Name: Samantha Cosme
Major: Nursing
Minor: Health and Wellness Studies
Hometown: Smithtown, N.Y.
Q: How did you first become interested in nursing?
A: When I was in high school, I always loved math and science, specifically biology. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so in my junior year of high school, my guidance counselor suggested I apply for a week-long health science camp at LIU Post that took place over the summer. I was accepted into the program, and over the course of that week, I learned about various careers within healthcare. The day we explored nursing was by far my favorite day, and I was drawn to how hands-on and interactive the profession was. At the beginning of my senior year, I took a career planning class and it was then that I began researching nursing even further and became interested in Decker College at Binghamton.
Q: What were your experiences like at Decker College?
A: Throughout my time in Decker, I have had multiple opportunities to be involved. I have been a part of the undergraduate research course NURS 499 since the fall of my sophomore year, where I conducted numerous focus groups and designed a vaping cessation intervention video and education module with my group, which has been presented to local high schools as well as here on campus. I also presented at Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Society events, Binghamton University Research Days and the Eastern Nursing Research Society, both on Zoom last year and in person at the 34th conference in Providence, R.I., this past March.
In addition, I have been a student ambassador working in Decker’s advising office for the past two years, where I have the opportunity to speak with prospective nursing students at open houses and give tours of the building. This year, I also began tutoring junior nursing students in pathophysiology. Finally, my involvement in Sigma Theta Tau allowed me to facilitate two community service projects: a clothing drive last semester and a mentorship program at a local middle school this semester.
I have had many positive clinical experiences in both hospitals and the simulation center at the new Health Sciences Building in Johnson City. Recently, I completed my clinical capstone at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, spending half the semester on a mother-baby unit and the other half on a medical-surgical unit. I had amazing nurse preceptors on both units, along with guidance from my clinical instructor, and I feel confident in my ability to transition from the role of a student nurse to a registered nurse in a few short months. Decker has prepared me well, and I am so grateful for all the opportunities to learn and be involved that have come my way!
Q: Are there any specific courses or professors that stand out to you?
A: Geraldine Britton was my mentor for NURS 499, and I became very close to her over the course of the three years that I was in that class. I have never had a professor who cared so much for her students, and she truly became more than just a professor to me. She was always there to meet and help with our research project, write a letter of recommendation or make a Monday morning brighter with her amazing personality. Learning from her was an honor, and I am grateful to have had that experience in Decker.
Another professor who stood out to me was Rosa Darling. Associate Professor Darling was my Pathophysiology professor, and she was absolutely amazing. Patho is a very challenging class, but she taught it so effortlessly and made it easy to understand. She made me love the class so much that I decided to tutor for it this year.
Q: What advice would you give to students who are undecided?
A: To students who are undecided about going into nursing, I would suggest taking a nursing elective if your schedule can fit one. There are many nursing classes you can take without being in Decker, and it would allow you to dip your feet into nursing and see if it is something that really interests you. You also could get a job at one of the local hospitals as a nursing aid, where you work under a nurse and provide direct patient care. This is a great way to learn about the hospital system and the type of care you would be required to provide as a registered nurse. The same advice goes for any kind of undecided student — getting experience where you think you may want to end up is helpful in seeing if you really want to end up in that field. Take any kind of class in that field and seek out job and internship opportunities if you can!
HARPUR COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Name: Klaire Martinez
Major: English/Creative Writing and Theater
Hometown: Rockaway Beach, N.Y.
Q: How did you first become interested in English/theater?
A: Theater makes up such a large part of my life. Whether I’m acting, singing or dancing, I always feel the most present when I’m telling a story. But I didn’t allow myself to pursue it professionally until I got to college. One of my directors in my first year sat me down and asked me why I was in STEM when I seem to come alive only when I’m acting. A few months of stubbornness later, I found myself knocking on the Theatre Department chair’s door asking hypotheticals about changing my major, and she replied, “We’ve been waiting for you.” I’ve stuck around since.
With English, I actually used to hate it, believe it or not. It was when I read The Great Gatsby that I started to really enjoy analyzing literature. A little while after that, I began writing creatively, which helped me express myself in ways I didn’t think I could. Since then, I’ve used writing to process many aspects of my life and articulate my feelings.
Q: What were your experiences like at Harpur College?
A: Interesting. That’s the best word to sum it all up. There was always something to do, whether I was hopping around the science buildings or Fine Arts, I was always busy. In my opinion, Harpur College is a place for people with a million interests to be. I definitely did enjoy it.
Q: Are there any specific courses or professors that stand out to you?
A: History of the Theatre with Assistant Professor David Bisaha, British Literature II with Associate Professor Jessie Reeder, and Movement and Voice with Professor Anne Brady. These were some of the hardest classes I’ve come across, but also the most rewarding. A lot of my growth as an actor and a scholar started with these courses. My creative writing courses with Distinguished Professor Jaimee Wriston-Colbert also helped me develop a lot as a creative fiction writer.
Q: What advice would you give to students who are undecided?
A: Focus on the things that you know you like. Those are your “hints.” Take classes you’ve always wanted to take. Don’t constrict yourself to whatever major you said you’d stick with in your first year. Worry about what you want to be doing, not what others want you to do. If I had let other people tell me what I wanted to do, I would have been miserable. Worrying about the future is important, but so is being happy in your present. Pursue what makes you laser-focused, whatever aligns your senses — I’m talking about something you’d gladly lose sleep over. If you get goose bumps and flashes of an awesome, action-packed future, you’re probably on the right track!
SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Name: Keira Maurer
Major: Accounting
Minor: Finance and Data Analytics
Hometown: Mahopac, N.Y.
Q: How did you first become interested in accounting?
A: My older sister chose accounting, and I was able to see her go through college and then find a job. It seemed like a strong career path that would easily result in a job after college. I took my first accounting course in high school and thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew then that this was what I would go into college doing. I chose data analytics as a minor because all of the employers I spoke to during my first two years at Binghamton said that it was a great and very sought-after minor in accounting majors — I also enjoyed coding quite a bit. I chose finance to give me some exit opportunities from accounting in later years.
Q: What were your experiences like at the School of Management?
A: I have had very good experiences during my time in SOM. I was not initially selected as a PwC Scholar coming into school, so I went through the rigorous interview process and got in my sophomore year. After that, my SOM world opened up, and I was able to meet a lot of amazing people. Because of the scholar status, I never had any issues registering for classes, although I know that that was a big issue for some of my friends. The SOM Career Services and Academic Services offices are great resources that are not readily available at every other school, and they were super-helpful in the start of my career.
Q: Are there any specific courses or professors that stand out to you?
A: One of my absolute favorite professors was Assistant Professor Jonathan Ross. I had him for Cost Accounting and for Accounting Analytics. He truly cared about the material of the course and connected with every student. When we would hit a snag in our Alteryx class, he would always work through it, and he focused more on the thought process rather than the act of getting the question right. Another one of my favorites was Assistant Professor Dan McKeever for my Investments class. He was another professor who related to and connected with students. He is also one of the smartest teachers that I’ve ever had — but not so smart that he can’t explain the topics to students. I have a lot of fond memories from my time in these courses, but one I would absolutely recommend to any accounting major is the Accounting Analytics class. It will prove extremely helpful in your internships and future careers.
Q: What advice would you give to students who are undecided?
A: If you come into Binghamton undecided, I would make sure to take classes in every subject possible and go to every GIM (general interest meeting) of any student organization that sounds even remotely interesting. Some people I know who joined the Women in Business club came in undecided and decided to apply to SOM, got in and are on their way to a business administration or accounting degree now. You could join a coding club and decide to do computer engineering. Clubs are great because they show you what your major entails without the annoyance of tests and homework, so you get to see more of what a workday would entail. Do all of this as early as you can, because the sooner you know what it is you want to do, the easier it will be to orient yourself to be the best possible candidate for that specific major or school.
COLLEGE OF COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Name: Ian Ouma
Major: Human Development
Minor: Africana Studies
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
Q: How did you first become interested in human development?
A: Like many freshmen, I was a lost sheep in the first few months of attending Binghamton. I didn’t know what exactly I wanted to do, and I certainly did not know what I was going to do. Nevertheless, I set out to explore my interests by erratically registering for elective courses that were open to all students, regardless of majors and schools they attended. To be quite honest, most of them were such a bore to me and did not necessarily stimulate my brain or perhaps even spark any interests. I never really looked forward to them every week, particularly the ones in the early morning hours. Nevertheless, there was a course that I took a sudden interest in, Culture and Context in Human Development instructed by Associate Professor Denise Yull. There was something unique about how she taught the course that would captivate my imagination and interest in the subject, and I personally found her to be quite remarkable. Her method of instruction on the subject was very nontraditional, and I was curious to know more about human development. Surprisingly, it happened to be a field close to my background, which is social justice, and thus human development became my major.
Q: What were your experiences like at the College of Community and Public Affairs?
A: I never really got to experience CCPA fully because of COVID. The University Downtown Center was sort of closed off. Most of the classes were on Zoom, and I personally wasn’t fond of the sessions, because I was never prepared for the realities of remote learning. All of it was uncharted territory. Nevertheless, I did make the best out of it by getting to know my professors on a personal level. Most of them were quite approachable on Zoom, and we would talk endlessly. I would occasionally rant to them about my frustrations, and they would make things make sense. One of my highlights of attending CCPA was asking questions and getting answers to those questions. I did feel like my inquisitive sense and nature was further growing, and it made me feel a sense of belonging in the midst of a global pandemic.
Q: Are there any specific courses or professors that stand out to you?
A: Professor Yull, Professor Leo Wilton, Associate Professor Marguerite Wilson and Assistant Professor Chandiren Valayden. They played an important role in my experiences at CCPA, and I’m very much in awe of their work and who they are as a people. Without them, I would be utterly lost. Their method of instruction in some of the courses they taught was very nontraditional and hands-on. I looked forward to seeing them every week and tried to never miss a class with them. I personally think they went above and beyond just to make sure I understood whatever they were teaching, and being the curious cat I was, I very much appreciated that. As professors, they demonstrated their understanding and impeccable knowledge in the area of study by making connections to real-life examples and experiences, while at the same time providing resources for further inquiry.
Q: What advice would you give to students who are undecided?
A: CCPA is the best place to be! I think the staff is remarkable, and the environment is certainly accommodating. At CCPA, you are allowed to be who you are, and you are able to amplify your voice and some of the causes you stand for. You are allowed mistakes and grow in the process of learning. Additionally, I would advise them to embrace discomfort, putting themselves in unfamiliar situations where others are unlikely to be. Trust me, it’s the key to success, and I can attest to that.