After a long four years of late nights to meet paper deadlines, group study sessions, rigorous test, and exciting football games with tailgating and of course the victory parties you finally made it. Today is the big moment that you have been preparing for. Your whole family is in attendance as they await for the announcer to call your name. You are the receiver of a bachelor’s degree, yet the only problem is you hate the major you selected. Now what?
There has been a trend recently where college students have been coming out explaining the have selected a major they no longer like. Many students are forced, often by parents, to select a major that they do not enjoy .Other students are unsure on which path they want to take and are informed they must pick a field they are not entirely sure to avoid graduating late. Even sometimes people go through changes while in college and decide the direction they wanted to go in freshman year is completely different from one in senior year. This adds stress onto a student and makes them feel stranded. They usually feel the only options are to pursue a career in a field they lack interest in or further their education, which can lead to large student loans. Well what should you do?
If you’ve been in or are currently in this position, first it’s important to consider why you selected a certain major originally. It is critical to sit down and think about this as if you select a new major, you do not want to make the same mistake twice. If you are within your first or second year this shouldn’t be a problem to select a new major. You may lose a few credits however it’s better to do this early on as opposed to in last semester of your senior year. If you are within your junior or senior year this process may be a little different. You may be put back slightly and forced to graduate a little later then desired. While initially this may scare you, it is a better decision then to pursue a major you dislike.
While changing your major may not be an option if you have just graduated, you may want to take another route. You should be very proud that you were able to complete a degree in whichever field you initially selected. In addition you should also be happy that you were able to come to this decision early on. Many people find out later in life that they have made a mistake and are placed in a difficult position. They can leave their current job where they will face challenges in finding a new one or be forced to stay where currently employed in hopes of reaching retirement. If you have graduated you should be aware that a degree does not define you. This means there are many opportunities out there available for you, if you apply yourself properly. There have been many successful people even without a degree in certain fields, so you having a degree still makes you highly qualified.
A key in this process is staying positive. Many people harp on the past which leads them to being stationary or not making any progress. While you may be unhappy with your degree, it is important to change your future since you cannot make adjustment to your past. Working hard is a great way to use the knowledge that you’ve acquired in college to stand out in your current field. Showing bosses your drive will help if you need a recommendation for a future employer. Also showing your social skills and ability to be versatile will make you more employable. In addition you can begin researching the field you want to go into. Read books and online blogs on the topic or even take a few courses at a local community college to see if you are truly interested in the field.
The four year journey for many people ends in disappointment as they discover the major they pursued does not align with the path they want to take in life. While initially this may be upsetting, it’s important to remember that a major is not the ‘end all, be all’. A person is still able to make changes in their life which will lead to them pursuing a career they enjoy. It is important to stay positive in this process because it is perfectly okay to have a change in one’s career. Staying motivated and focused on your new goals will help the transition from one path in life to another.
