Changing majors is common and often a good decision, as long as you are moving toward something and not only away from a hard class. Before switching, test the new field, check how the change affects your credits and graduation date with an advisor, and talk through the cost with whoever is paying.
Good reasons and shaky reasons
Some reasons to switch hold up well:
- You have taken courses in the major and consistently dread the material, not just one professor or one exam
- You chose it for someone else, or because it sounded safe, and it does not fit
- You have found another subject you seek out on your own
- The careers it leads to do not appeal to you after you have looked closely at them
Others deserve a second look first:
- One bad grade in a hard introductory course, which is often designed to be difficult
- A friend switched
- You are burned out generally, and a new major will not fix that (see college burnout)
- You want to avoid a required course you are anxious about
Test before you switch
- Take one course in the new field as an elective. Do you like the homework, not just the lectures?
- Read the requirements. Look at the full list of courses for the major, especially the upper-level ones.
- Talk to two juniors or seniors in the major. Ask what they wish they had known.
- Talk to a professor in the department during office hours.
- Look at what graduates do. The career center can often show where students in that major have gone, and informational chats with alumni help.
- Try the work. A club, a research assistant spot, a volunteer role or an internship shows you the day-to-day in a way courses cannot.
What to check with your advisor
Policies differ by school, so confirm these with your academic advisor and the department rather than assuming:
- Whether the major has an application, minimum GPA or prerequisite sequence
- How many of your current credits count toward the new major or as electives
- Whether the change adds a semester or more, and what that costs
- Any effect on scholarships, financial aid or program-specific funding
- Whether a minor or double major gets you most of what you want with less disruption
Talking with your parents
If a parent is paying, they will have questions, and they deserve straight answers. Come with the facts: the new major, the requirements, your expected graduation date and what you plan to do with it. “I want to switch from biology to economics; I’ve taken two econ classes, here’s the course plan, and it adds no extra semesters” lands far better than “I hate my major.”
Parents: try to separate the decision from your own hopes for the student. Ask how they reached it and what they have tested. A student who has thought it through is usually making a better choice than one who stays put to avoid disappointing you.
Where a mentor helps
A mentor helps a student think through the decision without a stake in the outcome, set up the tests above as weekly steps, prepare for the advisor meeting and the parent conversation, and connect the major to real career options through career and education planning. Mentors are not admissions or academic advisors, so the official answers still come from the school. Sessions are by video in the student’s time zone, and with the student’s permission parents get progress updates. See mentoring for college students.
Related
- Mentoring for college students
- Career and education
- Should you transfer colleges?
- Landing a college internship
- How to Choose a College Major: A Practical Process
Common questions
Is it bad to change majors?
No. Many students change majors, and doing it thoughtfully is better than finishing a degree that does not fit. The main costs are time and money, which an advisor can help you estimate.
When is it too late to change majors?
It depends on how many credits transfer into the new major. Later changes are possible but more likely to add time, so talk to an advisor as soon as you are seriously considering it.
Should I change my major or transfer schools?
Change majors if your school offers what you want. Transfer only if it does not, or if other factors make the school a poor fit.
Get started
Trying to decide on a major? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.