At some point in our lives, most of us have been asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Now that we’re on our way to being full-fledged adults, the pressure to find an answer to this question is the greatest it’s ever been. The clock is ticking down, and with every minute we don’t have everything figured out, we risk failing.
Or does it? Although college is a means to a degree, and thus a career, it’s much more than that — it’s also a time of self-discovery. College is full of endless possibilities and opportunities to find what we’re truly passionate about. Rather than shutting the door to these potentials and locking into a major, we should be more eager to see what awaits outside our comfort zones.
While some students have always known what they wanted to do, that isn’t the case for many of us. According to survey data from the U.S. Department of Education, approximately 33% of undergraduates changed majors throughout their college career. Among the students who changed majors, 9% switched more than once.
In a different survey assessing graduates from BestColleges.com, 61% of respondents expressed a desire to go back and switch their major if they could. For a vast majority of respondents, the main reason for wanting such a change was, “I want to pursue my passion.” The next popular choices were, “I want better/more job opportunities” and “I want better compensation or benefits.”
Aside from personal satisfaction, there are multiple reasons why students choose their major. For some students, their selected major is merely a fulfillment of parental wishes. Others base their choice on whatever provides the greatest economic and financial benefits. Yet others make a decision because doing so is viewed as a better alternative to being undecided.
Students’ urgency to nail down a major and the hesitancy to switch is justifiable. Today, the amount of money students are paying for their degrees at a public four-year institution is 170% greater than it was 20 years ago, according to the Education Data Initiative. Changing majors means taking a big financial risk. Not only is more money typically required to complete the necessary amount of credits, but money is also wasted on non-essential courses.
However, one study from the Education Advisory Board found that major exploration isn’t necessarily a barrier to on-time graduation. Using data from over 46,000 graduates, researchers determined there was an optimal time frame to declare a major, which occurs between the second and fourth semesters. Compared to students who declare before or after this window, those who declare during this period are more likely to graduate in four years.
Researchers cited a lack of evidence as a notable reason why students choose incompatible majors. In other words, students who don’t take the time to consider their options are less likely to find a path that aligns with their actual passions. Fortunately for us, NC State offers a plethora of resources and opportunities to discover exactly what those are.
Getting involved on campus is not only a great way to explore interests, but it can also be an opportunity to try something new. NC State is home to over 600 student-led organizations, ranging from American Justice to Zoology. With so many options to choose from, you’re almost guaranteed to find something that speaks to you.
The Career Development Center is another excellent resource. Here, students have access to various tools to help them along their professional journeys, including career assessments and the Career Identity Program. Yet, the Career Development Center isn’t limited to present members of the pack — graduates can also use it to aid their career decisions well beyond receiving a diploma.
At the end of the day, college is what you make of it. Don’t let this special time go to waste — take advantage of every opportunity NC State has to offer, make mistakes and change your mind if that’s what you feel is right. You never know — it could be the best decision you’ll ever make.
