When I first came to UCSB, I entered thinking I’d be studying and pursuing a career in a completely different field than the one that I am in now. I was a Pre-Biology student looking forward to studying marine biology and getting a job in that field, but I quickly realized that it was not the right area of study for me.
I remember coming back from a chemistry lecture and not being able to recall any of the material that the professor had discussed during said lecture, feeling dejected and worried about my future in the class and deciding to look over my notes later. I waited it out and tried my best to get the material, spending many days and nights doing homework and studying, but it just didn’t stick.
The day that I decided that I would change my major, it definitely felt a bit impulsive. I hadn’t done well in my classes that week and was feeling very unmotivated to fix that fact. I had been thinking about changing it for some time and decided that I would not put up with it any longer, as I could no longer keep lying to myself. I was not happy here, and I could be if I was studying something else.
While at first I had felt like I was the only person feeling this way, I have come to find out that that is not the case. According to the U.S. Department of Education, data collected from schools across the country showed that about a third of undergraduate students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program change their major. Not only that, but 1 in every 10 students changed their major more than once. At UCSB alone, 1 in every 3 undergrads change their major. Clearly, it is a lot more common than we think.
I personally do not know one person who hasn’t changed their major at least once, and I have talked to people who have changed their major multiple times. Even if someone have not changed their major, I assure you that everyone has thought about it. It is absolutely nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about.
There are also academic advisors and counselors there to help you through every step, and in my experience they made me feel very comfortable and understood. These counselors and advisors talk you through everything and reassure you, whether you’re worried about making a rash decision or being too late to switch.
It’s okay to change your mind until you find what’s right for you. Every reason for changing your major is valid, whether you are changing it because it is too challenging, not challenging enough, or just simply does not make you as happy as you predicted. Whatever you choose to do should be entirely up to you and something you should be proud of regardless. And no matter what, you must always remember that you are not alone.