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What is it like to change your major? In which year did you make the change?

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Chirayu’s Answer

Changing your major can be a big decision and can have both positive and negative impacts on your college experience and future prospects. Here are some factors to consider: - The ideal time to change your major can vary depending on your individual circumstances. Some students make the change early in their college career, while others wait until later. If you're struggling in your current major, it may be better to switch sooner rather than later. On the other hand, if you're close to completing your current major, it may be more challenging to switch, but not impossible. Changing your major can affect the timeline for completing your degree and may result in losing some credits that you've already earned. You should consult with an academic advisor to understand the impact of changing your major on your academic progress and timeline. Consider the job market and earning potential for the new major you're considering, as well as your personal career goals and aspirations. Make sure the new major aligns with your interests, skills, and values. Overall, changing your major is a personal decision that requires careful consideration of your individual circumstances, goals, and aspirations. If you're unsure about your major, it's important to seek advice from academic advisors, faculty members, and others who can provide guidance and support.
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Jillian’s Answer

Hi there! I went to college thinking I wanted to go into medicine. With that, I started as a Biology/Chemistry double major; however, my school did not allow us to declare until at least after our first year. I took an advanced calculus class & Biology & Chemistry classes for majors. After my freshman year, I realized I really did not like those courses! I read an article that recommended your major should reflect the classes that you like most! It asked - What department or faculty group are you most drawn to? What classes are you EXCITED to attend? & then it said - Those should be your major! The reason being, so many students burn out while taking classes they really don't like. And it only gets harder once you declare. So, I declared my sophomore year that my major was English with an emphasis in Writing, and my minor was Art. I graduated with a few extra science/math credits, but that was okay.
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Gloria’s Answer

Hi,

Changing your major in college is a pretty easy thing. You go to a counselor or just start taking new classes. The act is not the hard part. You should understand the ramifications of the change. The first time that I changed my major was my sophomore year of my bachelors program. I was hoping to get into a journalism program, which only accepted a small number of students in my junior year. I did not think that I was going to make the cut, so it was time to decide on a new path. To that point, I had been taking courses that I thought would work with my journalism degree. I picked another major without thinking about what college credits I already had. I didn't take a look at how my journey may be longer and cost more based on the classes that I had already taken. It can be costly to change your major, so taking the time to look at what you have already done is important. You may want to try to go to a similar major. I might have been better served changing to an English major rather than the romance language major I moved to. A school counselor is often part of the college that you are in, so they may not be able to help you change to another college within the university. It might be easier to go to someone at the student union to understand the ramifications of changing majors.

Another consideration is changing universities. When I made my second major change, it coincided with a change of university, to another state. Moving to another state can make some of your credits invalid. For example, in Texas, you have to take Texas History as a basic requirement. That is useless when you move to another state, which probably has its own state requirements. Some credits do not transfer that might appear to be the same. For example, I took English at one university, but since it had been a few years, the credits no longer counted so I had to take English again at my new university. It is important to learn about the impact of transferring to new schools as well.

All this being said, I probably would not have gotten into the journalism program, but I wish that I had gone into English and graduated in four years. As it turned out, it took me 17 years to get my bachelors degree. Without a clear focus, I had spent nearly twice of what I would have if I had just committed early on. Even if you do not use the degree that you earned, you make more money with a college degree of any kind than without one.

Gloria
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Yasemin’s Answer

Hi! I had one of my classmates who changed their major; she decided Chemistry was not for her and pursued Economics instead and ended up being very happy. Sometimes we may not be too sure of our path until we are completely immersed in it, then we can make a more definitive decision. You can change your major until your junior year, so your first two years you are allowed to change it but after junior year it will become difficult as graduation approaches. This may lengthen your education at the university if you change your major after sophomore year.

Best of luck!
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Celeste’s Answer

Changing your major should not be so difficult although it depends on the major or department you go into. When I declared for my majors all I had to do was sign a sheet of paper that was then sent to my enrollment services. After that it was displayed on my portal. I officially declared my majors I believe the end of my sophomore year or beginning of junior year.
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