If you’re in college, then you understand the importance that surrounds picking your major. When you begin college at the ripe age of 18, you feel immense pressure to pick a major right away instead of taking the time to make sure you pick something you truly want. Too often people find themselves trapped in a major they don’t enjoy too close graduation. Don’t let this happen to you. Here are six different signs that could tell you if you’ve potentially picked the wrong major.
1. You only thought about the money.
It’s easy to get caught in the money trap. Many majors seem far more appealing when there’s a fairly high annual income attached to it. But just because the job pays a lot, doesn’t mean it’s meant for you. You’ll regret doing a job you hate just for the money in the future.
2. You chose something because your parents wanted you to.
We all want to please our parents. Up until now they either helped us make major decisions or just made them for us. And while your parents gave you a lot of advice and helpful tools to help navigate young adulthood, you should be picking a major based off your goals for the future, not theirs. In the end, even though it’d be nice to have a child that became a world-class surgeon, parents ultimately want to see their children happy.
3. You hate the classes you're taking.
You should feel some excitement about the classes you’re taking within your major. It shows you have an interest in your major. If you walk to class thinking about how miserable you are going to be the entire time, you might want to reevaluate if that major is really something you enjoy.
4. You don't know why you chose your major at all.
If you can’t name a single reason why you chose your major, you might want to reevaluate your choice. Most students will tell you a moment when their major sparked an interest or talk about their passion for helping others, which led them to the medical field. If you can’t pick out any reason for choosing your major, it’s probably not the one for you.
5. You're failing your classes.
Students usually fail for two reasons: either they don’t understand the material or the don’t care enough to do the work. Either way, failing the classes in your major is a huge red flag in determining whether or not you made the right choice. If you are really struggling with the material, it’s possible that your knowledge is better suited for a different major. If you don’t care enough to do the work, it could show your lack of interest in the subject. If you’re that uninterested you should definitely change you major as soon as possible.
6. You're not connecting with any of your professors.
Typically your professors have worked in the field you’re studying. They can give you a glimpse into the types of people you may be working with. If you hate all of your teachers in your department and can’t seem to connect with a single one, it may be a sign that you shouldn’t be working with those types of people and should therefore change your major.
Whichever major you chose, make sure it’s a major you truly care about. You major in college determines what path you’ll go on after graduation and you want to make sure you’ll enjoy your journey through adulthood. Be sure to pick the right major so you can enjoy your line of work and live a full life.
