It’s the end of the semester, and you’re wondering whether or not you’re on the track that you truly want to be on. Maybe you are, and in that case, keep going! But, maybe you’re having second thoughts about becoming an engineer or a journalist or an art teacher. Don’t stress it! For the majority of students, a whopping 80%, according to College Parents of America, a major change will happen at least once in their college career. For some, it happens more. It’s nothing to panic about, as long as you are comfortable and happy with the major that you land on.
So, how do you know whether or not it’s time for a change? We’ve got a number of ways to figure it out.
1. You’re flunking nearly everything.
This is never a good sign. If you just can’t seem to get ahold of what your current major is requiring of you, it may be time for a switch up. Now, this does not go for the classes that you skip nine times out of ten to binge watch Netflix. If you are an active participant in your class, have been to tutoring and sought out help through your professors and fellow Ospreys, and you still can’t find your footing in your major, then it is time to think it through. But, if you’re haphazardly making your way through class, then it’s definitely time for a change. A change in your approach- while you’re in college it is important to be in college. That means to go to class, do your work, and make it count. You get out what you get in, and if you’re not putting much effort into anything that you do, a change in your major will make no difference.
2. Another major has sparked your interest- and kept it there!
You’ve been in music classes since freshman year, but you just can’t stop thinking about history. You’ve loved it throughout high school, and the passion has never gone away. Music, on the other hand, has just been something you’re fairly good at, and maybe your guitarist father has more of an influence than you realize.
In cases like these, it’s totally okay to look over other majors. If your current major is nowhere as interesting as others that you have found, begin to explore them before you find yourself three credits away from graduating with a degree you have no use for. That doesn’t mean that you should hop majors every time something new and shiny comes along. But, if you have a genuine interest in something else, research it and really think it through.
3. You never really gave your current major much thought.
You are not alone in this. So many students come out of high school and jump into a major at university without really thinking about why they’re taking it. Yes, it may sound impressive to be a biology major, but if you want a career in writing, then a change is in order. Think about your future and where you desire to be in that, and then you can line up your major and you classes to fit that. Don’t stick to a major that you have no connection with.
4. You’re bored!
You have absolutely no interest in anything that you are learning. You go to class after eight hours of sleep, and have to pinch yourself to stay awake. You’re making good grades and you understand the material, but you are just so bored. If you can’t take the idea of going through one more class in your major because there is nothing that you look forward to, then this current major may not be for you. You have to realize, collegiette, that what you’re studying now is the field in which you are training to one day be apart of, and if you can barely get through a class in the subject, then getting through a career will be torture. Look through classes that spark your interest, and see what majors they pertain to. Examine what you want to do in the future, and find classes that correspond with that. Do something. Don’t just fly through your classes, and graduate just to graduate. Be proud of the work you do, and if that means finding new work to dive into, go for it!
5. You hate (literally hate) the idea of a career in this field.
This goes hand and hand with being bored in your major. Maybe you started your journalism track wholeheartedly prepared to write for a major paper once you’ve finished your degree(s). But, maybe after three semesters of writing and interviewing and more writing, you just can’t stand the idea of doing it day in and day out forever. If you have grown to hate the overall subject in which your major lies, it may just be time to find a way out.
To declare a major is not the same as signing a contract- you are allowed to change your mind! But, it is important to remember that just because you’re feeling uneasy in your major doesn’t mean that you should necessarily change it! Your outlook and your approach towards your schooling has a lot to do with what you get out of it. That’s just to say that if you’ve been having a negative attitude towards your classes lately, it will impact what you take away from it. Sometimes a simple reevaluation on your perspective is all it takes to carry on. But, if you’ve been giving it all you’ve got, and your heart still isn’t in it, then have a meeting with your advisor and discuss some of your options. College is meant to better you in what you love to do, so never settle because you feel as though you have to.
Good luck, collegiettes!
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