Speaking from experience, changing your major can be a very stressful yet rewarding thing to do. It has a lot of pros and cons, but is overall usually the best thing one can do. College is hard enough and having to settle on a major is even trickier, so it's no wonder one third of students change their major within three years. Here are some pros to changing your major in college.
1. It allows you to learn about yourself.
Some people know exactly what they want to do with their lives the second they step onto campus while others have no idea. Either way is okay. However, if you don't quite know what you want to do, switching majors allows you to explore options you're interested in. You get to dive into topics you're interested in and learn whether it's the right path for you or not. You get to learn more about your interests and passions by choosing a major and potentially switching it.
2. You have time to explore.
The reality is most people don't graduate in 4 years anymore. In fact, only about 19% of full time undergrads get a degree in 4 years, so don't stress. Plus, most students don't actually start courses for their major until their third year of college. With three years, you have a lot of time to explore different subjects that interest you to see which is right for you.
3. You'll end up happier.
Being able to change your major if you choose one you realize makes you miserable is actually a blessing. Imagine how terrible it would be to graduate with a degree in something that gives you no interest and having to live every day working in a path you despise. Changing your major can allow you to find a major and job that makes working feel more fun and makes you feel more fulfilled.
4. Most courses taken for a previous major don't always go to waste.
When I switched from Computer Science to English, I worried that the courses I took (and passed) would be a waste. First, taking those courses made me a more well rounded individual. I had some knowledge to subjects that I could potentially use later in life. On top of that, my new major took those classes and turned them into electives (which I needed anyways) and allowed me to focus more on my new major than worrying about having to find a certain amount of electives.
5. More experience.
Like I said previously, those courses you took for your prior major won't completely go to waste. You'll have more experience than most who don't switch majors and know a broader subject of things.
If you're thinking about switching majors, make sure to talk to your adviser. They are there to help you figure out your courses and major, so take advantage of that. Also make sure you can financially change majors because it can sometimes be more expensive since you may have to be in school longer. Along with that, make sure to ask peers and friends and family for input on your idea. Lastly, try to take aptitude tests online or at your college to see what would be the best route. Best of luck!
