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Beginning college, I felt pressure to pick a major because I didn’t want to go in undecided. So my freshman year, I started out as a forensic science major. I absolutely hated it. Stoichiometry, isotopes, the cell cycle — what a bore. Was this really what I wanted to do with my life?
The short answer was no.
My sophomore year, I ended up switching to criminology, adding English as a second major and religious studies as a minor. It felt liberating, and as I got into the rhythm of my new classes, I found that I was doing something I actually enjoyed.
Some people have always known what career path they want to follow. My brother knew since he was a kid that he wanted to work with planes and rockets. Today, he’s an aerospace engineering graduate student at Penn State, doing exactly what he planned.
However, the majority of people do not have it all figured out. Like myself, many students have uncertainties related to the future. Approximately 41% of adolescents feel unprepared to make a career choice after high school graduation and, likewise, 37% are not sure where they want to be in their chosen path of education, according to a survey of 500 students.
With that being said, it’s important to realize that switching majors is not a sign of failure, and it’s actually quite common. A study of 25,000 students found that approximately 30% of undergraduates changed their major at least once, with roughly 10% changing twice.
Of course, it becomes harder to switch majors as the semesters begin to fly by, and sometimes this might mean taking an extra semester or year. Yes, college is expensive, but it’s an investment in your future. No one wants to be stuck in a job they hate for the rest of their lives, even if that means having to stay in school a bit longer.
There are also many opportunities to rack up credits, making graduating on time a doable task in most instances. Summer classes at community colleges are one of the cheapest and easiest options, and online courses through the summer or regular semesters here at NC State are another flexible and relatively inexpensive option. If you have questions about these options, you may want to schedule a meeting with your academic advisor.
In addition to discovering a more enjoyable career path for yourself, switching majors has other benefits. Studying a subject you are passionate about might increase motivation, which, in turn, may lead to improved academic performance.
You may also choose to switch majors because of limited job prospects in your current major. In this case, trying something different may simply be the smart decision.
Alternatively, you may feel trapped in your major because you think it is the only way to secure long-term financial and career stability. However, with an evolving job market there are many opportunities across a variety of fields, making it worth considering other options.
It’s important to note that, if you switch career paths, the hours you spent working towards credits in the major you leave behind were not wasted. All classes have some sort of value, whether that is preparing you for the workforce or expanding your knowledge of a topic; so even if it feels like you stressed over classes for no reason, it wasn’t for nothing.
Taking a wide variety of classes contributes to a well-rounded education. Am I going to do anything with the chemistry I learned my freshman year as a student in the forensics program? Probably not, but that class taught me how to deal with a tough professor, challenged me with difficult material and helped me make friends I still keep in touch with today.
Importantly, switching majors requires careful consideration. Just because one of your classes is hard doesn’t mean you should completely alter your career. If you are having doubts about your major, it might be helpful to talk to your academic advisor who can walk you through the process and help make a plan for graduation.
For students interested in switching or adding majors, NC State requires a Change of Degree Application through the MyPack portal.
It might feel intimidating and risky to switch, but college is a time to explore your passions. Even though it may seem like everyone has it figured out, we’re all in the same boat, finding our likes and dislikes, working towards a degree and embracing uncertainty as we navigate college.