Within 3 years of initial enrolment, nearly 30% of undergraduates in bachelor’s and associate’s programs who declared a major had changed it at least one time, as per a study by the U.S. Department of Education. The same study founds nearly 1 in 10 students changed the college majors more than one time: 10 per cent of the associate degree students and about 9 per cent of the bachelor’s degree students.
Several current college students can associate with the desire to switch their major. Whether you are bored, it is overwhelming, or it is just not what you were expecting, it is totally reasonable to graduate with a degree different from the initial major.
Changing your major for betterment will lessen your stress levels and increase motivation to excel in school. However, if you do not consider each factor before making the change, the results can impact your career’s success negatively in the future.
So, before you take the huge dive into a new major, you must ask yourself these questions- and always be honest with your answers:
- What are the time and cost factors that come with changing the degree?
- The degree you graduate with will dictate your future, so you need something you will be passionate about and happy about doing regularly. Unfortunately, though, time and money are always important factors.
While deciding on switching your major, you should consider how many more semesters will get pinned onto your education. Based on how far you have got into your program, this may not be a huge deficit. However, if you are switching to a focus that is significantly different or you are in your third or fourth year, the price could be enormous.
Weigh the risk and the reward before you take a final call
- Can I afford the extra cost?
- Is staying in school for extra time ok for me?
- Is it possible to graduate with your existing degree and find career satisfaction?
- What are the internship opportunities for me?
For most of the college majors, there is no fixed rule for internships. Companies are looking beyond the degree to students’ experiences and personalities. They want to find individuals who have the gumption and skills to lead the brand into a bright future.
It is important to consider opportunities that are not directly in the domain of your degree. For instance, a student with a major in English may have peaked his/ her interest in marketing. Before ditching English, they could see if they can attain an internship in an advertising department.
Once you have got an internship in the field you chose, open to your newfound co-workers about any kind of uncertainties you have. Chances are, you will find a few workers who have a successful career using the knowledge from a degree that is not directly associated with their job title.
How competitive are the existing job market and projections?
This is a bit tricky, but a necessary question to ask yourself. Some job titles and careers are now attracting traction, whereas others are slowly phasing out. It would be a big waste of resources and discouraging if you changed the major only to find a career will finally get extinct within 5 to 10 years.