We all know that 80% freshmen change their minds. This student will take sports management and discover it’s not the field he thought it was, and will drop that. Or will take statistics and discover its potential for business. A 4-year plan is an essential guide, but students who don’t show enough self awareness to see the plan needs to change are among the most common casualties (along with those who think that just because they take a class in something they should major in it). The group that graduates most smoothly is the group with a flexible plan, ie., goal + details but willing to switch all details depending on circumstances (not whims! but indicators of apitude+interest.) For instance, a C+ in Calculus1 should be a strong indication a math or engineering is unlikely, and if Calc 2 results in a D, the student needs a quick Plan B regardless of 4-year plans and majors chosen in High School. Those situations are unfortunately too common.)
I’d say it’s impossible for a freshman to have a 4-year plan BEFORE orientation. Typically they work on it in their Freshman Seminar (T175) and need a month to six weeks to have something even remotely doable and rational. And even then, basically none of these plans will actually be followed as opportunities arise, new subjects are discovered, others are found to be lacking what appeal they had in their freshman fantasy, etc. However they’ll still be immensely useful in helping them map out a path over 4 years and distinguishing between what they can choose to do, and what they can’t avoid.