Should You Change Your Major Halfway Through Your First Year?

Choosing to change your major at the end of the first year of a bachelor’s degree program is a decision that comes with its own pros and cons. A decision to change might take you on a new path that you are more passionate about. Your idea for a change might also cause you to spend more time and resources. Here are some more important reasons why you might want to change or not change your college major.

Reasons To Change Your Major

1. Defined passions and career objectives

If your new major is something you are not passionate about or something you plan on pursuing long-term, then you should consider changing it, but do it as soon as possible. Settling in a box that you do not want to be in is a good way to cause burnout. To put it in a more polite way, you could end up as a “burnout victim”.

2. There is still time for you to complete it

Within the first year, it is easier to change courses than to do so in the third or fourth year. Most students during the first semester tend to do basic courses, which means that no matter the change in specialization, those courses will be accepted. As highlighted by NCES, close to 30% of students in the United States once shift their field of study, while about 1 in 10 students change it between two to three times.

3. The act of looking further and learning

University, as a first year, opens up many interesting avenues. Exposure to new subjects and teaching staff may highlight areas that were not on one’s radar in high school. Students taking computer science studies will be more likely to switch to data analytics undergraduate programs than students in other tracks to discontinue their programs, which means some exploration is beneficial. Rutgers University’s Learning Centers has noted that students who switch majors, “when your original choice does not seem to be the proper one, does provide ‘new perspectives and opportunities.’”

Reasons Not To Switch Your Major

1. Extended time to graduation and higher costs

Every change has a risk of adding semesters to the completion of the new program. If the new program has core requisites that you have not completed, you may have to spend one additional year of courses. This will increase tuition and eventual loan repayment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that students who change their majors do not complete a degree in the expected time of four years, which is the average time to complete a degree in the U.S.

2. Possibly losing school credits

Some of your first-year classes may not count towards the new program. For instance, a concentration in science may not accept credits for the business elective. Losing credits can hinder your progress and restrict your chances of graduating within your desired timeline. Even a semester’s worth of lost credits can represent thousands of dollars in tuition payments.

3. The new major may not resolve the discontent you have.

It’s not always the case with the subject itself. The latter tends to stem more from the shift towards university. Out of all transitions, the first year in college tends to be the most challenging for a student, and with it comes the most work, from study habits to even integrating into the social dynamics. A major shift may provide a type of relief, but the same person may become unsatisfied all over again without even knowing what the true issue is.

Steps to Making an Informed Decision

Don't just skip to something new without due consideration. Consider your dissatisfaction with your current major. Is it the content, the future career, or the pedagogy? Making a list could shed light on your disposition.

Conduct a planning session with a counselor. Advisors understand and explain the processes involved, including how much of your credits can be retained and what alternative routes you can take should you change your major. Their advice can save you a lot of trouble later on.

Consider for a cost-effective solution. If you like another discipline but are worried that you may take longer to graduate, a minor or double major may be the appropriate solution.

Research the employability of your field of interest. Make sure to check what different careers are available for new graduates and how their goals correspond with yours before making a decision.

Fwwff I think it’s a little late for an introduction, even for me.

Quitting your current chapter and opting for something completely different within the same year as your first year can be a little overwhelming. Though it isn’t an unusual phenomenon. There is a saying, better late than never, and such is the case for late switches. As for everything else, you need to decide if you want to endure losses or play it safe and at least make a solid effort to find the “right” answer. Your major is a foundation for your life. Whether you plan to stick to your major or switch completely, you’ll find the outcome rewarding if you make a solid decision

Did you change your major during college?