Thinking of changing your major? That’s great. This choice can feel scary at first, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re not loving what you’re learning, it might be time to switch programs.
In this post, we will go through a list of questions to ask yourself before you decide to change your major.
My experience with changing my major
When I first started school, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted and how I was going to get there. I planned on getting a business degree so I could work in advertising. I had it all planed out.
Great, right? Wrong.
After two years of business courses, I hated it. I’d spend hours trying to solve complex case studies just to keep up in classes where you were expected to constantly participate (every introvert’s worst nightmare).
Every time I went to class, all I felt was dread, dread, and more dread.
It wasn’t until I took a couple of communications courses how I realized how much I loved it. And how the business school path wasn’t for me.
It was scary at first, I didn’t know what would happen, but at the end of the day, I still ended up exactly where I wanted to be. Switching from business to arts was the right call for me.
So if you’re on the fence about changing your major, I’ve got you covered. Before taking the plunge, here are a few questions to ask yourself.
Questions to consider before changing your major
Why do you want to change your major?
Why do you want to change your major? Maybe it’s because your current major isn’t all what you thought it would be. Or maybe you’ve decided on a whole new career path. Whatever your reason, figuring out your why is all a great place to start.
What prerequisites do you need?
Do your research. Look into the program’s requirements. What classes have you taken so far? Which ones do you still need to take? Do they sound interesting to you? Do you feel ready? After figuring this out, look at your next steps and go from there.
What do you want to do after you graduate?
What do you want to do once you’re all done school? Where can you see yourself ending up? Writer? Lawyer? Teacher? Nurse? You don’t need the exact answer right now, but having some idea can help you decide if changing your major will help you get there.
How will this affect your graduation date?
With all the new course credits that come with a new program, sometimes changing majors means more than your standard four years. Can you live with that? Are you okay to take an extra year, overload for a couple of semesters or even do summer school to catch up?
How will this affect you financially?
Just like changing your major can affect your timeline, it can affect your finances too. Doing an extra semester or an extra year means more tuition fees. Is that on the table for you or totally out of the question?
What does your support network think?
Have you talked it through with your support network (i.e. your family, your friends, an academic advisor)? What did they have to say? Are they supportive about this switch or not so much?
Are there any other options you can take?
If changing your major isn’t an option right now, that’s okay. There are other options. Could you do it as a minor or certificate instead? Is there a club or society on campus you could join? Or how about as a grad school program after you graduate?
Final thoughts on changing your major
When I first started school, I thought I had to have everything figured out. But the truth is, there are so many different paths to get where you want to be. With this list of questions, you can better figure out if changing your major is the right path for you.
