Ever wonder if you are really in the right major? I definitely think about it all the time because if I do end up changing my mind it will probably be to something in a different school… So it would be like starting over. I think about it when I have a bad day, if I miss a class, or if I do badly on a test. I think about it because I’m still not 100% sure what I want to do after college or where I want to work. Here are a few reasons why I want to change my major and some reasons why I haven’t.

1. Is your major something you're passionate about?

Do you like the subject material you learn about in class? Do you enjoy the quirky stories your professor tells you about when they were working in the field? If you answered no to the first one, then you might want to think about changing. For me, my major is microbiology and I had to be feeling seriously sick to miss a class because I loved what we were learning. It was a general microbiology class but I liked it so much more than the general biology classes because we learned more about what I was interested in.

For the other question, you may not have to like all the stories your teacher tells you as there are many fields and jobs that each major leads to, and so you could end up doing something completely different, but if you hate every story your teacher(s) tell you, you may want to think of switching. One of my professors started talking about the application of population genetics in class and how it is used in criminal cases to help decide if the suspect in a case is a good candidate… does their blood match that at the crime scene and what is the probability that it could fit another person? I was so excited when she was telling us about this because I think I want to go into forensics.

2. Do you want to learn the material?

If you want to learn about your major classes, you’re in a good spot stay in your major. However, if you find that you couldn’t care less or really dread going to class you may want to look to something different. Now, for my major I have to take physics… which I’m really not looking forward to, but I love my microbiology classes enough to where it evens out and gives me some motivation to go to class and learn. However, if you find that you really hate a class, not just because it’s hard or you aren’t doing well, but you hate it because you don’t care or don’t want to learn about the subject then maybe you should switch. I have a friend who was a science major but she just hated doing chemistry, she wasn’t failing – she was actually doing really well in that class – but she just hated the work, and so now she’s a business major and enjoying her classes a whole lot more.

3. You enjoy your main classes more or equal to your elective courses.

Okay. Some elective courses literally just sound like a ball of fun. But even though they can be fun and sometimes help de-stress you from your tougher classes, you should still enjoy your major classes as well. If you find that you really do enjoy your elective classes more, maybe you should switch your major to one that would include more of the classes you like or find interesting.

4. Is it helping you work towards your dream job or career?

Why are you in the major you’re in? It should be because it’s something you want to do or something to help you reach that goal. Want to be a journalist? Maybe don’t major in science unless you want to write about scientific topics. Want to be a musician? Maybe don’t major in engineering unless you also want to do that too. If what you want to do gives you doubts about making enough money or finding a job after college, change it. Now, in some cases, you may not have to change your major but add a minor instead. If you love art but don’t think you can make a career out of it, make it a minor instead. That way you could try to use aspects of it towards your major, and it may make you stand out on job applications after college.

5. What would be your reasoning for changing your major?

Every major is difficult in its own way. For some, math just doesn’t make sense and so any major with math may not be the best option unless you are willing to put in extra work to try and really learn that math. For others drawing may be really difficult, so either avoid majors that include art or just work harder on your art to succeed in the major you’re in. Changing your major because it’s ‘too hard’ can be good or bad. It can be good because if you aren’t going to put in that much effort into your major while you’re in school you may not succeed after college. However, changing your major because it’s hard may also be bad because there is no ‘easy’ major. Yes, some have fewer credits, but all majors have the ‘weed out’ classes or the select few classes that everyone struggles with. If you are unwilling to get through those classes in the major you have now, what makes you think that those classes for other majors will be any easier?

Now, changing or not changing your major is not a good or bad thing. If you thought you wanted to be a scientist but find out in your first year that you despise being in a lab – you should probably change. If you find out you actually love something, maybe make it your major or add it as a minor. You need to figure out what you want to do, but make sure you are doing for the right reasons and are sure of your decision. After all, college is about learning more about yourself and preparing yourself for a future after you graduate.