Back in high school, I had no doubt that college was the next step. However, the pressure of choosing a major was colossal! It felt like choosing the rest of my life when asked to select a major. I knew I wanted to do something creative, but I didn’t want to throw away all of my hard-earned A’s in physics, chemistry, and biology. After switching the major option about a hundred times, I finally registered under Undecided - Fine Arts for UC Davis.

UC Davis is Here to Help

After getting accepted, I was overjoyed at not having to choose a major just yet. Thankfully, UC Davis offered great options for undecided majors, such as myself, including the dorm floor I was assigned to: The Aggie Explorers Living Learning Community. This community offered special programs to explore what majors piqued my interest. A lot of the students on my floor were undecided as well, which made me feel more confident about trying new things.

One of the most helpful classes I took was the major exploration class I signed up for in my first quarter, which featured guest speakers and centered on projects designed to educate students about the various UC Davis majors. The undecided major advisor encouraged me to explore my interests, so naturally, my first quarter classes were all over the place. I took Spanish, cognitive science, a Dungeons & Dragons crash course, and FST 10, Food Science and Technology: Food Folklore and Health. Do you think carrots improve your vision, or have you ever caught yourself throwing salt over your left shoulder? This class introduced how food has shaped different cultures around the world, and food myths that need to be debunked. Although many took it as a GE (General Education course, I couldn’t get enough!

The Turning Points

One of the assignments in my major exploration course was to interview a faculty member in a major you found interesting. I chose Dr. Lungu since she taught FST10, and boy, was I nervous! Luckily, she accepted and encouraged my questions about the major. While speaking with Dr. Lungu, she emphasised the importance of teamwork. “In the food industry, you never work alone,” Lungu stated, which explains why every class of hers has a group project. Food science could fill my passion for both creativity and science. By the end of the class, it was at the top of my potential major list.

A huge tipping point in my journey was the Major Fair held right outside the dorms. I spoke to a few advisors, but once I reached the food science booth, something just felt right. The possible careers I could go into sounded astonishing! Becoming a flavor chemist, breeding nuts to be non-allergenic, or preventing malnutrition in struggling areas. My future classes looked engaging, from performing (and participating in) sensory panels like FST 127, or partaking in an international product development competition such as FST 198. Above all, everyone I spoke to was incredibly welcoming. I was so convinced that food science was where I belonged that just a few days after that fair, I reached out to change my major.

Making the Switch

Applying to the FST major was straightforward, and I actually had the option to complete my degree in three years if I wanted to. I realize now that, having graduated, coming to Davis was one of the best decisions of my life, as it encouraged me to discover my passion: food science. The major explores so many different aspects of food that I never knew existed, such as food safety and quality assurance jobs, ensuring that your In-N-Out burger remains just as delicious and safe as it was 10 years ago. Or perhaps food engineering is more to your taste, from developing the packaging to the energy that powers sustainable farms. It’s incredible how much content can be learned in the major, and it’s applicable in everyday life!

For all of the undecided majors this year, don’t be afraid to try new things. Many of my closest friends changed or double-majored during their time at UC Davis, and now they are either pursuing their original studies or doing something completely different. Ask around what the classes are like, meet with faculty, and go to clubs that align with a potential major. My advice is this: major in what you find engaging, challenging, and rewarding, and you’ll be surprised how everything else will fall into place. 

Best of luck for this new academic year, and I can’t wait to see how we Aggies grow!

Gwen Gonzalez is a recent food science graduate with a passion for blending storytelling and food innovation. This summer, she is serving as a harvesting intern at ASV Wines, focusing on winemaking. When she's not thinking about food, she immerses herself in music and the performing arts at the Manetti Shrem Museum and Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. In the future, she hopes to merge her interests in food and the arts through creative research and development in the food industry.