College is a time with an overwhelming number of open doors. Some people come in knowing exactly which door they want to go through, others are completely clueless, and some walk into one, then decide to leave and through another.
Students today are put under enormous pressure to choose the right door on the first go. Even though many people (and perhaps schools) tell you that tons of people change their majors (and careers) throughout college, the pressure to know exactly what you want to do is one that weighs heavily in each student’s mind. If you have no idea what you want to major in- you are not alone! Not knowing is 100 percent okay.
Freshman year I changed my major between my first semester and second semester, drastically. I started out as a classical saxophone performance major, and changed to a psychology/philosophy major. As you can imagine, none of my credits overlapped. In fact, I had to change schools (within BU) from College of Fine Arts to the College of Arts and Sciences! It wasn’t easy, but I gained a lot of wisdom regarding major changes and the stress that can come with it and how to deal with it all.
I have compiled five very important tips to keep in mind when entering, and throughout college:
1. Don’t compare yourself
Some people go into school 150% knowing what they want to do. While this is great for them, there is no need to feel bad about yourself just because you aren’t sure. You should not feel pressure to wed yourself to something you are unsure of just because other people are committing themselves
2. Explore your options
If you have no idea what you want to do, then try different classes out to see what interests you. College provides an opportunity to learn about such a diverse range of topics and ideas- so take advantage of that and find out firsthand what clicks with you (and what doesn’t).
3. Keep an open mind
You might think you know what you want to do, and that’s great! However, don’t completely close your mind off other possibilities and opportunities that may come your way.
4. You WILL figure it out
Sometimes the pressure of picking a major can be completely overwhelming. It is important to have faith in yourself that in time you will figure it out
5. Don’t be afraid to change
If you are on a specific path that you had thought you were confident in and are now unsure (like myself) know that it is okay to change your mind. It takes a lot of bravery and initiative to turn back around and “start over” so to speak, but you will thank yourself in the long run!
