Hello new and prospective Bruins!

My name is Mikayla, and I am a current third year student here at UCLA, studying Human Biology and Society (B.S.). I am originally from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, so I grew up right in UCLA’s backyard. Just like any other Southern California kid, I grew up idolizing the idea of one day being a Bruin myself, dreaming of studying in Powell Library and decking out in blue and gold at the Rose Bowl. But when the time came for me to actually apply to the UCs as a high school senior, I remember sitting frozen at my computer, completely overwhelmed by all the decisions that stood in front of me. What UC campuses to apply to? What career path I wanted to pursue? And, what major to apply as?

This third question stared at me more pressingly than the rest. I thought that whatever major I selected locked me into some sort of predetermined future – one that I could never change, even if my interests evolved. Luckily, high school me had an inkling that I wanted to eventually end up working in health care, so it felt intuitive to look towards the rigorous life science majors, since those are what I thought would “look best” for my future. Thus, I arrived at UCLA as a Biology major, embarking on what I expected to be an unmalleable next four years. In my first few quarters here, I began taking all of the basic introductory science courses, the typical biology, physics, and chemistry. However, I started to feel that a burnout was imminent. Although I have always been the type to enjoy science courses, I felt that I wanted to explore so much more beyond the brute molecules and math. By the end of my first year, I had found my footing along the pre-dental track, and with that, I found myself constantly questioning how my degree could translate to real-world, everyday applications that would eventually make me a better dentist. With that in mind, my plight for a new major began.

Though I had met other students with a multitude of different interests, I never realized the vastness of UCLA’s major catalog until I broadened my own lens beyond just our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) majors. UCLA is home to more than 140 majors and 100 minors across a wide range of disciplines, truly offering something for everyone. I found all the majors you would imagine a university to have – history, psychology, business economics – but also programs that pose a completely unique academic experience, like Classical Civilization for any history buffs or Data Theory for our future Silicon Valley tech titans. And if among all those choices, you still can’t find your perfect fit, UCLA offers students the opportunity to pursue an Individual Field of Concentration, letting you take the lead in designing your personalized major in collaboration with faculty members (I meant it when I said something for everyone). Each major is sorted into a particular academic department, with its own advisors and counselors to share their wisdom on balancing classes, seeking out extracurricular opportunities, and all the fun to be had in between while making your degree truly personal to you. After what felt like endless doom scrolls on different department websites, I finally had my “ah ha!” moment. I discovered the Institute for Society and Genetics and its major, Human Biology and Society (HBS). I know what you’re thinking – that this major cannot possibly be so different from my former general biology major, but this program is designed to provide an interdisciplinary approach to learning about current issues at the intersections of human biology, genomics and society. It was truly the best of both worlds for me, bridging the gap between life sciences and social sciences, integrating a perspective needed to address many important and current questions of ethics, public policy, and research related to health care. After two years of never feeling entirely satisfied with my course schedules, I finally found my perfect academic niche on campus.

This switch for me required a lot of planning, advising, and faith in my HBS application. Though it felt uncertain at times, letting go of what I felt like I “should be doing” ultimately led me to the most rewarding decision of my undergraduate career. Yet, this journey did not come without its fair share of learning lessons that a younger me would have relished to know:

• Welcome self-reflection. Give yourself the space to really think about what excites you academically. Some of my most impactful moments came from taking GE courses in sociology, anthropology, and philosophy of science – classes I initially saw as mundane requirements, but that ultimately helped me better understand my own interests and values. You might be surprised by what resonates with you when you step outside your comfort zone.
• Never shy away from trying something new. I came into UCLA so set on being a “STEM student” that exploring anything that wasn’t explicitly science courses felt like uncharted territory. But those experiences were exactly what I needed to help me discover the right path. Don’t limit yourself with labels and strict categories, but rather seize opportunities to expand your education.
• There is no “right answer”. It’s easy to get caught up in what sounds impressive or what you think you should pursue, especially in fields like healthcare. But the truth is, you can be successful coming from any major. In the end, passion, curiosity, and commitment will fulfill you so much more than the perceived prestige of any major.
• Good things take time. It took me nearly two years to find the major that truly felt like the right fit, and that’s okay. Growth isn’t always immediate, and not having it all figured out right away is part of the process. Trust that you’ll get where you’re meant to be, even if it takes a little longer than you expected. UCLA gives incoming first-year students two years to declare a major for a reason!

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from my story, it’s that you don’t have to have everything figured out the moment you step onto campus. UCLA is a place that encourages exploration and growth. Your major is just one piece of that journey, not your final destination. The classes you take, the people you meet, and the experiences you say yes to will all shape you in ways you can’t fully predict yet.

So to all my future Bruins, take a deep breath. You are not locked into one path, and you are absolutely allowed to change your mind. Lean into the uncertainty, trust yourself, and don’t be afraid to carve out a path that feels uniquely yours. When you look back, you will realize that all the twists and turns led you exactly where you were meant to be. And when that day comes, I hope you’re walking across campus, maybe stopping by Powell Library or heading to the Rose Bowl, wearing your blue and gold and thinking…it all worked out.