As I am in the middle of changing my major from biology to communication, many things have changed. The main component that has changed is going from a 300 person lecture hall (where you are just a number) to a discussion based classroom (where everyone knows your name). It’s like culture shock.

In a 300 person lecture hall, you can get away with skipping class. The slides are always online and the teacher usually reads verbatim from the slides. Usually, the line ‘I’ll just take notes later’ flies through your head. However, if you miss one class in a 30 person room, your teacher will call you out. He/She remembers everything. They are also more likely to take attendance in a smaller classroom.

Since the class is discussion based, you will have reading. Most weeks it seems like we have 200 pages to read before every class. This isn’t just skimming the pages either. In order to even think about passing the class you have to take notes on EVERY. SINGLE. PAGE. I know everyone has that one professor that does this! It takes at least two days for me to complete the weeks worth of reading.

Questions. The professor loves asking questions to see if you read. You need to be prepared at any moment to be asked any question that was assigned in the reading. Borderline terrifying.

The positive of switching to a smaller major is that it becomes more personal. Isn’t that what life is all about? Personality. You have the freedom to really build your own personality in a small major. Your professors hold you accountable for doing your work which in turn makes you feel accountable yourself.