Figuring it All Out, At My Own Pace

Aerial photo of Rowan Campus.

From a lackluster start during Covid, to dropping out, to discovering herself in a new major Kara Romanies, a sophomore advertising major from Swedesboro, NJ (Gloucester County) shares this first-person perspective on the challenges of figuring out her career path, feeling left behind while others seemed to have it all figured out, and the importance of […]

#PROFspective: First-Year Student Talks Exploratory Studies & Accepted Students Day

Close up of a smiling Kayla.

Meet Kayla Muniz, an exploratory studies (undeclared) major, and member of the Women’s Rugby Team. Kayla just completed her first year and is from Galloway, NJ (Atlantic County.) What is Exploratory Studies? “Exploratory studies means that you do not have a set major; you’re exploring what you want to do. You have the opportunity to […]

Meet #Rowan2026: Incoming Students Look Forward to Clubs, Sports Teams, New Friends

Rowan University drone footage from above.

Today we feature incoming Exploratory Studies first year students Kelly Hector and Olivia Szumloz (she/her). Kelly is from Watchung, NJ (Somerset County) and will be living on campus. Olivia is from Hamilton, NJ (Mercer County) and will also be living on campus.  Welcome to Rowan! Could you share with us one thing you are looking […]

Meet #Rowan2025: Exploratory Studies Major Maria Celeste Lopez Vasquez

Photo of Science Hall and flowers in the foreground.

Today we feature incoming first year and first-generation college student Maria Celeste Lopez Vasquez. Maria will major in Exploratory Studies and commute from Camden, NJ (Camden County). Maria attended Camden Academy Charter High School. Welcome to Rowan! Could you share with us one thing you are looking forward in college? In college, I’m looking forward […]

I’m Not Sure What to Major in, is That Normal?

Outside shot of Welcome Center.

Admissions counselor Amanda Marcks dispels a myth about majors and details a unique Rowan program called Exploratory Studies that’s designed for undecided students.  Deciding on a college major can be really intimidating, especially when there are so many options to choose from! At Rowan we have more than 80 different majors ranging from all areas […]

Julia’s Corner: How to Get the Most Out of College

a photo of julia sitting outside the Rec Center

Recent grad Julia McAleavey shares guidance through this advice column for incoming students. A student with well-rounded experience, Julia earned a bachelor’s in advertising this spring. She transferred to Rowan her sophomore year, after another school wasn’t a great fit. While at Rowan she started as an exploratory studies major, unsure of what to major […]

Sophomore Reflects: Navya Kunigal Shares Tips and Her Top 5 Reasons She Chose Rowan

Rowan Boulevard at night.

Today we feature Navya Kunigal, a rising sophomore Community Health major from Hillsborough, New Jersey (Somerset County). Here, Navya writes about her on-campus, first-year experience and gives future Profs her best Rowan tips.  As a freshman, I lived in Chestnut Hall, and I loved it! It is a wonderful dorm with so many wonderful people. […]

How I Chose My Major: Exploratory Studies To Psychology Major Sydney Basis

Stock image of a student writing in a notebook

Today, we speak to rising sophomore Sydney Basis. She is from Marlboro, NJ (Monmouth County) and is an on-campus resident. Sydney is a former Exploratory Studies major who then made the decision to become a Psychology major. She’s going to tell us a little more about her experience as an Exploratory Studies major and how she […]

Julia’s Corner: It is Okay to Not Know Your Major

a photo of julia sitting outside the Rec Center

Recent grad Julia McAleavey shares guidance through this advice column for incoming students. A student with well-rounded experience, Julia earned a bachelor’s in advertising this spring. She transferred to Rowan her sophomore year, after another school wasn’t a great fit. While at Rowan she started as an exploratory studies major, unsure of what to major […]

Meet #Rowan2024: Exploratory Studies Major Amanda McNally Furthers Her Athletic Career at Rowan

Photo of future Prof Amanda visiting Rowan.

Today we feature Exploratory Studies major Amanda McNally from Tabernacle, NJ (Burlington County). Amanda is excited to be living on campus this fall and competing on two of Rowan’s athletic teams. What is something you’re looking forward to next year at Rowan?  I’m looking forward to being on campus and all of the student events. […]

Meet #Rowan2024: Exploratory Studies Major Keeps Doors Open

Stock image of a yellow door and a blue door side by side.

Today we feature incoming freshman Renna Manno, from Blackwood, NJ (Camden County), who will commute to campus. Renna is choosing to start her Rowan career as an exploratory studies major to keep her options open, but feels she may go into a field related to psychology or sports.  What are a few things you’re looking […]

Exploratory Studies Path to the Perfect Major for Callie

Callie DeMaria stands smiling with Rowan Boulevard buildings behind her at Rowan University

Today we feature thoughts from Callie DeMaria, a rising junior from Little Egg Harbor, NJ (Ocean County.) A first-generation college student, Callie started at Rowan as an exploratory studies (undecided) major and found her way to the perfect major for her — psychology, within the College of Science & Mathematics. Callie lives on campus during […]

Exploratory Studies Leads to Perfect Match in Public Relations

Shaylin Heller, public relations major at Rowan University, walks past the book store holding her laptop and wearing sunglasses

Shaylin Heller, a rising senior public relations and advertising double major from Frenchtown, NJ (Hunterdon County), has so much passion for what she does, you would never guess she came into her freshman year overwhelmed with the thought of choosing a major. “In high school, what I thought I wanted to study changed every other […]

From Exploratory Studies to Entrepreneurial Star

Jo Carter sits next to a Business Hall sign at Rowan University, wearing a pink button down blouse and holding a notebook

Jo Carter, a recently graduated senior from Lindenwold, NJ (Camden County), has always been full of ideas, but when she first transferred from Albright College, she wasn’t quite sure how to bring them to life. “I came to Rowan as an Exploratory Studies major, (within the College of Humanities & Social Sciences) unsure of what […]

Exploratory Studies Student Finds His Passion: Political Science

Jason, wearing a Rising Rowan shirt, standing outside Bunce Hall

Rising junior political science major Jason Brooks, from Monroe Township, NJ (Middlesex County) shares his journey with us on how Rowan’s exploratory studies major helped to connect him with the right major for him: political science. The on-campus resident, who recently wrapped up his sophomore year, lived in one of our newest residence halls on […]

Aspiring Counselor Started As Exploratory Studies Major

Autumn sits on a bench outside of Savitz Hall at Rowan University

Sophomore Autumn Vilches-Cruz, who commutes from Cherry Hill, NJ (Camden County), shares her insight with prospective students every day in her role as an Admissions Ambassador who gives tours of campus. Today she shares one snippet of insight, as a former exploratory studies major (commonly known as an undeclared or undecided major.) Coming in as an […]

Exploratory Studies Student: Allison Cespedes

student Allison outside of cherry blossom tree in Rowan hoodie

Meet Allison Cespedes, who started off her Rowan experience as an exploratory studies major and discovered her interest in pre-med. “Hello! I’m Allison Cespedes, a first-generation college student who is a senior psychology major on a pre-med track with an honors concentration. I am from Bridgewater, NJ (Somerset County) and have lived on campus all […]

Living in Willow Hall

girls outside willow hall at rowan university

Meet the freshmen of the Willow lounge and see how they spend their time living on campus! Video featuring: Jordan Simhony, nursing major, Cherry Hill, N.J. (Camden County) Melanie Quido, exploratory studies major, Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. (Bergen County) Mike Rodolico, computer science major, Cinnaminson, N.J. (Burlington County) Maycon Pinto, international studies major, Delran, N.J. (Burlington […]

Compare/Contrast Freshman Housing

Scott Timko is a resident assistant in Mullica Hall, wearing a yellow sweatshirt that says Glassboro State

Chatting with Rowan University on campus residents on a frigid, hectic morning just before finals (seriously, is it really spring yet?!), one thing was clear: the sense of community within their residence halls is what they love most. However, what “community” means in each residence hall is different. I learned that Evergreen is known for […]

Exploratory Studies Workshop: A Preview of Science, Math and Health at Rowan

While the Exploratory Studies program at Rowan is being chosen more by freshmen undecided about their educational paths, many within the major do have a general idea of what fields they are drawn to, but they want a closer look before committing to a major. The workshops held by Exploratory Studies provide students with an […]