Student Life

How to Know if You Should Switch Majors

How to Know if You Should Switch Majors
It’s scary, isn’t it? 

The thought that you’ve spent so much time and energy into a major only to find out you’ve lost the passion for what you’re learning. 

When everyone is telling you that your university major affects the way your professional career is going to go, it’s scary to realize that you might not want the same things you did when you first started university. 

However, this isn’t uncommon. Research has shown that 50% - 70% of students switch majors at least once during their university career. But, how do you know whether you should make the jump or not? Here are a few things to consider before making a final decision. 

1. When do you want to graduate? 
This question is key if you’re a third or fourth-year student who is considering changing majors. Many times when you switch majors late in your college career, there is a possibility that you’ll have to continue going to school for a year or two longer than you anticipated. In most cases, switching majors require completing existing prerequisites that you may not have done beforehand. 

If you’re the type of person that is excited to finish school and move forward to your career, switching programs might be a more difficult decision for you. In cases such as these, it would be helpful to talk to your university counselor and see if there are any ways around completing your degree late such as taking summer classes or transferring class credit. 

2. What is it about your major you don’t like?
What is it about this major that makes you want to switch? Did you find another major you like better? Is the work too hard? These are all questions to ask yourself before making the decision to switch. If you’re switching majors because you don’t like a certain class or professor, you might not be switching for the right reasons. It’s good to do your research on the major you’re in and the major you want to switch into to ensure that you’re changing majors for the right decisions. 

3. How does money affect your transition?
Money is a big topic to think about when you’re considering changing majors. In 2016 to 2017, the average American spent around $25,000 per year on tuition, housing and fees. 

Changing majors could mean an extra year or two of school and this could affect how you and your family are paying for your university education. 

By talking to a counselor before making any big decisions, they can help outline how switching majors will affect how much extra time and money you would need.  

4. Does the job you want require you to have a certain Degree?
It’s important to remember that most university degrees don’t predict your future career. There are many people who graduate and end up in a job that is completely different from what they majored in. However, for some professions, it is required you complete a certain degree in a certain major such as becoming a doctor, lawyer or university professor. 

While you don’t need to figure out exactly what you want to do after graduation, it is important to have an idea of whether or not the profession you want needs extra education in order to qualify.  

5. Why did you choose this major in the first place?
One good thing to remind yourself before making the jump is why you chose the major you’re in in the first place. What were the reasons that made you want to choose that major? University is a time of big change so it is very possible that what you wanted when you first started isn’t the same as where you are now. 

Or you might be working hard but struggling to keep up. According to therapists, the most important part of deciding whether or not you switch majors is based on your happiness. If this is something you’re struggling to figure out, try talking to your friends or counselors to see if your daily stresses and anxieties about your major are common within other students. 

While you don’t have to like every class you take, being in a major you enjoy will help put you on the right path to professional success. 