The Advising Resource Center’s Degree and Major Fair on Wednesday gave students a chance to experience each major in speed-dating style.

Approximately 100 students met in the Gold Rooms to spend three-and-a-half minutes learning about each major available to them.

“Our office, we work with undecided and re-deciding students, so we were seeing a big need for students to be exposed to all the different majors that are offered at OU; this event is designed to expose students to all major areas within an hour,” said Lindsay Zeig, a Career & Academic Adviser and coordinator of the event.

According to Zeig, over 900 students at OU are undecided about their major.

Circular tables filled the rooms, each with a student representative from a specific major. Majors from Spanish and secondary education to nursing and computer sciences were available.

Jessica Hicks, who has been part of the event since it began, was there to represent sociology for the third consecutive year.

“I love my major and I really enjoy talking about it,” Hicks said.

Students participating in the event started at one table and made their way around the room. A DJ played music to signal when to move on to another major.

With five to 10 students at each table at a time, the representatives had to use their time wisely, and the job doesn’t go to just anyone.

“Students are recruited by their departments, so an email goes out to professors and advisors across campus,” Zeig said. “They have students who may be interested and they actually go through an application process.”

After they’re selected, representatives go through a two-part training system, first an initial meeting to discuss what the event will be like and next frequently asked questions and how to speak about their major areas.

During her years at the event, Hicks has grown to know what many students are concerned about.

“‘What in the world can you do with a sociology major?'” Hicks said. “Because students are thinking beyond their majors and what they’re going to do for the rest of their lives, they ask us who are some of the better professors. We tell them who they may be able to go to for specific advice on specific issues they might face in their major.”

Freshman Bobby Michels came to the major fair as part of his COM 101 class to help him narrow down his many interests.

“I’m looking at majors in education, journalism and law,” Michels said. “I like writing for journalism and I’ve always been told that I would be a good lawyer. I like ethics and philosophy and things like that.”

Like many students, Michels wanted to know what to expect from each of his options and what the future could hold.

“I want to learn how much school is necessary for each of the majors,” he said. “I also want to learn about the profits that might be available.”

Others were brought in merely by the promise of free food, but stayed to learn more about what OU offered.

“There was a woman outside that said there was free food,” said AJ Worth, who was looking for information about jobs in psychology. “Once I found out what was going on here, I actually wanted to come in.”

Within the hour participants learned from each representative what was available to them no matter which direction they decided to take.

“Sometimes it’s hard talking to an adviser because they have to be in charge of all the majors, whereas when you’re talking to one of your peers, they actually know a little bit more about the program,” Hicks said.

For more information about choosing a major or planning for the future, visit the Advising Resource Center at 121 North Foundation Hall or call 248-370-3227.