If you had asked me a month ago what I was planning to major in, I would have ranted about studying information technology for at least five minutes. To say I was excited would be an understatement — I couldn’t wait to learn as much as I could about all things technical. Fast forward to four weeks into the semester and I couldn’t possibly have changed my mind more. Realizing that the major you set your heart on just isn’t for you can be scary, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing after all. If you’re going through what I am right now, have no fear! Here are five reasons why it’s totally okay to change your major.
1. You may be surprised when you try something new!
If you’re a few classes into your major that you thought you would love, but it hasn’t turned out the way you thought it would, don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone and try something new! For example, just because you like to play video games doesn’t mean you’ll like majoring in video game design. You might be surprised to find that your true passion lies in something that you might never have considered otherwise.
2. There’s no rush to decide anything right this second.
Before you have a minor existential crisis about deciding on what you want to study, take a breath and remember that you have plenty of time to pick. Even if you entered college with a ton of credits, you probably still have at least a semester or two worth of general education classes to take. There’s nothing wrong with taking a little time to see what you’re interested in and what best suits your interests and skills!
3. You’ll get to make connections in different fields.
If you’ve taken at least several classes in your original major, chances are you’ve made some connections with other students and professors alike. If you end up changing your major to something new, you’ll still have those connections — except now, they’ll be in a totally different field. Your network will expand beyond the bubble of your major, and you’ll be able to draw on those connections in your new field! More likely than not, they’ll end up benefitting you greatly.
4. You’ll have a unique skill set to build on in your new field.
Even if you absolutely detest the major you’re switching from, you’ve probably learned at least a few useful skills in your classes. When you enter your new field, you’ll be able to utilize those unique skills and it might even give you an advantage! For example, since I’ve taken some programming classes for my major, I’ll have some technical skills (like proficiency in programming languages) that others in my field might find useful.
5. Nothing is more important than your happiness.
You should never, under any circumstances, feel guilty for making a change to ensure your own happiness. If your major is leading you down a path that doesn’t feel like it will bring you happiness, then you should change it. Don’t be afraid to switch from a “high-earning” or STEM major to something completely different – even if you’re making all the money in the world with your computer engineering degree, if it’s not something you enjoy, you won’t be truly happy. Put yourself first!
Hopefully, this list will make you feel better if you’re going through the same existential crisis that so many other people have, myself included. As cheesy as it sounds, I hope you follow your heart and follow the path that you think will bring you fulfillment and happiness. After all, nothing is more important than that!