Growing up in the Bay Area, Jake Trusheim always had a passion for the outdoors. When it came time to turn that passion into a career, he chose UC Davis.
Like many animal biology majors, Jordan Lara chose UC Davis because he wanted to become a veterinarian. But a class in Chicano studies led him down a new and unexpected path.
As a double major in Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Theatre and Dance, Shannon McCoy finds herself switching between art and science nearly every day. That’s a good thing, she said.
For anyone struggling with the decision to double major, UC Davis undergraduate Harris Niazihas some sage advice. “Don’t ever ask yourself what if,” he said. “Just go for it. Even if it doesn’t pan out, you’re at least stuck with one major that you love.”
Amanda Nguyen entered UC Davis as a history major, eager to explore her passion for human rights. She said she was drawn to the idea of interdisciplinary research. “As a history major, I’m not just memorizing facts. When I make an argument about the past, I have to take into account art, socioeconomics, literature, philosophy, politics and more.”
It’s often a class or internship that drives students into their major of choice. But for Janine Klein, a double major in Anthropology and Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, her interest in conservation science started much earlier.
NyNy (Phuong) Vu was born in Vietnam and came to California with her family when she was six years old. Growing up in an immigrant neighborhood in Sacramento, NyNy saw first-hand the impact of environmental problems on underprivileged communities. “My goal in high school was to grow up to help the immigrant community,” she said.
When it came to choosing a major, the possibilities were wide open for Avery Hom. Avery grew up near Seattle and entered UC Davis as a freshman with junior-level status thanks to Washington’s Running Start program. Instead of finishing out his junior and senior years in high school, Avery attended community college through the program while also earning credit towards his high school graduation.
