1. If you are not absolutely thrilled with the "boring" things in your major, it may be time to go.
Let's just say you're majoring in Math because you've always found it easy and somewhat enjoyable. In high school, you passed every math class with flying colors. But now you're in college and now you've just started taking your very first junior 300 level math course and you find yourself disinterested in knowing not just how functions work, but why they work. Well, this is literally the other half of why math is math. Just as this is the other reason why you decided to choose this topic as your field of study. Yes, there are individual hardships with every major in college, but if you decide it is worth it, then it is right for you. If you do not like knowing why functions or equations work and will never care for it, you may want to find another major that serves your 100 percent interest.
2. Are you studying this for you or for someone else?
When I was studying my previous major, I started to realize that even though I enjoyed the major, I was really studying it to make others happy. Now, in my case, it was not that I was following in anyone's footsteps, but it was more so that I knew my family would be proud of me if I pursued this career path. Of course, most parents want their children to be happy with anything they do, but there will always be those families that want their children to be the "successful" that fits their own definitions. For my family, money = success (like most families). So obviously, I felt compelled to pursue a career with this major because I felt that my family would be proud of me. I do not believe I have to explain why this logic is flawed, but just in case... In the end, you're the one who will be responsible for paying off student loans. You're the one who will be heading out there in the working field, and you're the one who ultimately gets to decide how to live YOUR life. You can't study a topic just to please other people, especially if it may not be the right fit for you.
3. Observe your peers/colleagues. Do you seem to fit in?
No, I am not referring to attire or being outgoing, etc. I mean, really notice them. Are they passionate about what is being taught? Do they go out of their way to gather more information on the topic because of sheer fascination? Do they enjoy certain things that you may not? I am not saying that these questions determine if the major is right for you. What I am saying, though, is, you can gather a lot of feeling and motivation from people based on their actions in the classroom. As a student who may be unsure if their major is right for them, this is important for you to notice. You can self-reflect and evaluate your own actions. Do you feel excited for extra credit within your subject? Do the fundamental topics excite you? Is this what you can see yourself doing for the rest of your life.
4. If money is the only motive...
First of all, STOP EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS. Don't do it. Don't pursue a major just for the money. Money is great and can be really important but as corny as it sounds, it is not worth your happiness. What good is a $200-300k a year job if you are not loving what you do? That is, after all, the whole purpose of college. We are all here to pursue a career that will lead to the kind of fulfilling life that we all want to live. If you end up choosing a high paying yet unfulfilling major, you will definitely regret it somewhere down the line of your life. Besides regret, you can also find yourself in a ton of student loan debt for a major that you did not even like in the first place.
5. Are you doing this for pride or passion?
This might be a silly question but really think about it. If the only reason you're studying biology/pre-med is to be called "Dr." then you might be doing it for the wrong reasons. As silly as that sounds, it is a thing. People go into majors for pride or to boost their egos all the time. If you're only doing it for the title, then you're doing it wrong. Somewhere along in your career, you will realize that you've made a mistake. I am not saying this is true for all cases either. I know that there are people that would love to have a title but also really value their careers. It is just important to understand what is the most important to you. Your pride or your passion.
6. Let's talk about that whole "unemployment" thing…Will I actually find a job?
Okay, let's say you're at the point of your "indecisiveness" where you're really wanting to change your major and you even have a major in mind. Let's say…. Art. BTW, I am not bashing art majors. I find you all to be incredibly talented and just plain awesome. But let's say… you want to become an art major but find that what you want to do specifically, has a very scarce job variety. This is something that a lot of people fear whenever they decide to change their majors. For a while, this was a high concern for me as well. It was not until I actually reached out for help (aka guidance counselor) to figure out my options. All in all, what I learned from that meeting was, some things are really worth the risk. If you are good at what you want to do, employment will find you.
7. Reach out for help.
Now, as a confused student, you are finally realizing that you should change your major. Cool. Awesomesauce. But… now what? Just about the easiest step! Reach out for help. Almost every University assigns guidance counselors for you and if not, they are always available. I recommend making an appointment with them to discuss your options and alternative career paths. Trust me, when I decided to change my major, I had no idea what I was doing! It is a scary thing to just jump into this new field without any help. Usually, the meeting is no longer than 30 minutes and you learn everything you need to know about your prospective major. It's worth giving a shot.
At the end of the day, college can be a long but incredible four years. I think it is in your own best interest to be studying something that you will love doing forever.
