Undecided? You’re Not Alone. One Graduate’s Advice for New Students

Like many college students, Ben Sharer ’25 felt overwhelmed and homesick when he arrived at Lebanon Valley College, and those emotions impacted his daily life and classroom experience. Thankfully, he found friendly faces, support, and resources in the Center for Academic Success and Exploration (CASE).

“The CASE staff provided a home away from home where I could relax and debrief from the stress of all the ‘new’ the college experience had thrown at me,” said Sharer. “The entire staff was incredible, but Sarah Bartz [Class of 2008, Director of Academic Success], in particular, was paramount to my academic development. She was persistent in getting me to discard my negativity and bad habits toward my classes and provided me with a gameplan on how to better myself each week.”

In addition to aiding with the college transition, Bartz and the CASE staff advised Sharer as an Exploratory major. Undecided? You’re Not Alone. One Graduate’s Advice for New Students

“Even though I entered as an Exploratory major, I had my mind set that I was going to become an Exercise Science or Athletic Training major,” he said. “It was evident after my first semester, after taking Anatomy and Physiology, among other courses related to these majors, that this was the path I did not want to pursue nearly as badly as I thought. Instead, I found myself more drawn to the business classes I was taking that semester.”

Sharer said that the first semester served as a process of elimination and smoothed the way for his declaration of a Business Administration major.

“Ultimately, the wide range of careers I could pursue with a Business Administration degree was the deciding factor, and I could not be happier with my decision,” he said.

Now, Sharer works as a Credit Analyst with Horizon Farm Credit of Reedsville as a Credit Analyst. In addition to analyzing and underwriting loans, he works closely with Relationship Managers to structure, condition, and approve credit for borrowers. He also promotes related services and participates in credit decisions.

“The main advice that I would give to students who come to LVC as undecided is not to get overwhelmed,” he said. “It can be overwhelming to see fellow teammates or friends who have a clear path in knowing what they wanted their careers and futures to look like, when I did not. I leaned on my resources with the CASE staff to speak openly about these feelings of doubt and to find ways to combat them.

“I also believe that having a roommate who was also an Exploratory major was beneficial, as we shared our experiences with each other daily, providing further clarity on how we wanted to approach the remainder of our time at LVC,” said Sharer. “Lean on those who care and are there for you daily and be open with them about how you are feeling.”