Personal Testimonies:

Michael:

When I first started college, I was pursuing a degree that was business related. I was going this route because my family wanted me to be set up with a degree that would have a wide variety of career options. The fall semester of 2017 started, and I had a personal finance class. I realized right away that I was not a numbers person, and even though the class itself was beneficial, I could not pursue a degree that dealt with numbers. In my first semester, I had a U.S. History course with Dr. Ben Johnson. I’ve always been interested in history, and he presented the material that immediately drew me in. I swapped majors and got into a History Major with a Political Science major. After I did that, my passion for college grew, because I was doing something that made me want to go to class. One thing that I realized quickly during this time was that no one else is living your life besides yourself, so if you’re having some concerns please continue to read this blog

Dani:

I chose to switch from a graphic design-related major to a K-6 elementary education degree. This change, although largely beneficial for me, was not an easy decision. I personally struggled with the idea that I would be a failure because I was changing my major and because I was not able to make graphic design work. Through the support of my family, friends, and advisors around me, I was able to see changing my major as a step forward rather than a step backward. The graphic design field was not bringing me the joy that a proper degree choice should; therefore, I prioritized my passions and began my journey as an education major. This change would ultimately bring me joy, contentment, and excitement for my life and future. I sincerely hope that if you are currently in the same boat that I was in prior to my degree change, this blog post can be the pushing force you need to pursue your dreams!

Reasons to change your major:

There are many reasons why someone would want to change their major, all of which are completely fair and reasonable. Below we are going to look at a few general reasons why someone would choose a different degree path; however, please understand that this list is not exhaustive.

You are not happy with the classes you are taking

This, if we had to guess, would be the most common reason for someone to switch their major. If you are not finding joy in the classes you are taking then this may be the first sign to you that you may need to consider changing your major. If you are dreading several of your classes, not because they are early or for their difficulty, but because you are genuinely not interested in the content, then you are not getting the most out of your college experience. Also, if the courses you are scheduled to take in the next several semesters do not interest you either, it is likely time for you to explore other degree options.

Your current degree path is fulfilling someone else’s goals but not your own

There are many students who view choosing their degree path as an extremely daunting choice. This is completely understandable! Oftentimes, though, when put in this situation, some students may choose to go with the path that everyone around them is telling them to go with when in reality, they desire something different. If this is you, we want you to know that your life goals are big enough and important enough for you to pursue them.

You do not see yourself pursuing a career that involves the degree you are working on.

One reason many people come to college is that they are working towards a degree that they need in order to obtain a career they desire. If you already know what career you want to have once you graduate, your major should play into your plan not against it. Let’s face it, college is expensive. Why would you want to waste your time and money on an education that does not get you closer to your ultimate goals?

Questions to ask yourself when considering changing your major:

    • Am I happy with the classes I am currently taking? Am I looking forward to the classes I will be taking in the future? Do I get excited to go to class?

    • Do I see myself pursuing a career that requires the degree I am currently working on?

    • What are my hobbies, passions, and/or interests? Is there a major that involves any of my hobbies, passions, and/or interests?

    • Am I pursuing my major because I want to or because someone else wants me to?

    • Do you like the department faculty that you are working with for your degree?

How do you know when you have chosen the right major?

You look forward to going to your classes.

This seems like an obvious reason; however, it is still a huge sign for you to know you are traveling down the correct degree path. It is also important to note that you may enjoy your classes for more than just the content. Due to you being surrounded by peers that also love their degree path, you will likely make friends, which is a huge plus! You may also talk about the content you went over in class while outside of class. If you are enjoying your courses enough to share what you learned with others, then that is an amazing sign that you have chosen the right major.

You are excited to make your schedule each semester.

If you are excited about the classes you are destined to take through your major, then you can likely rest assured that you are pursuing the right major. This joy is also great because it will lead to you feeling amped up for your upcoming semesters; therefore, you will be ready to hit the ground running!

You can see yourself pursuing a career that involves the degree you are obtaining.

As we have mentioned before, it is important to spend your time and money wisely in college. If you are pursuing a specific career that requires you to obtain a certain degree, and you are working towards that degree, then you are in a great spot!

Overall, you are content with your decision.

Ultimately, if you feel good about the major you are working on, then this should be a big sign to you that you are choosing the correct major!