Picking a major (or more) and a minor (or more) is one of the most stressful and intimidating things for me.  On top of that, there are competitive majors, no longer can students simply "declare" their major and study what they wish t study--we have to apply to a major and get accepted into it.  I think it's very unfortunate that not everybody can study what they want to study.  One would think that at such a wealthy, large, bountiful university everyone would have the luxury to pursue the education they desire.  But sadly that it not true.  I started out my year with a blank slate, knowing nothing about what I wanted to study.  When I got frustrated with that (and with everyone else seeming to kow their own paths) I sat down and browsed through the UW's list of undergraduate majors and minors.  I think I found around 50 or so possible things that I could see myself studying.  Month after month I went through the list and refined, adding some things, but mostly crossing things off.  The list went down to 30, then down to 25 and hovered there for a while.  I am the worst decision maker I know.  It takes me a painfully long time to decide on anything--ice cream flavors, entrees, dresses, guitars, phones, classes, etc.  

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During Winter quarter I thought I found the major for me, and you can read about it in my entry, "CSE and Me".  

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While I was on my study abroad trip in Rome.  It was time to apply to majors for Autumn.  I ended up applying to several majors.  Sitting down to apply to the majors really helped me think and helped me figure out what I really wanted to major in.  It filtered out the "I could"s and the "I will"s.  Instead of looking at all the things I CAN do, I began to look at the things I CAN'T NOT do.  I was pleasantly surprised to receive an invitation from one of my top choices--the informatics program.  Especially after hearing how admission got much more competitive this year, I figured it was an opportunity too good to pass, so I suppose a decision was kind of made for me, but now things are so much easier.  You can read more about this in my misc. section.