Should I Change My Major? 5 Signs That It Might Be Time

You chose a major before you even set foot on campus. Or maybe you took a bit of time, but now you’re wondering if you made the right choice. It’s not unusual and you’re certainly not alone. About a third of college students change their majors at least once; some, even more. If you’re wondering if it’s time for you to switch, look for the signs.

1. Change Your Major if Your Engagement and Grades Start to Slip

When you sit in classes for your major, does your mind wander? Do you lose interest quickly and find it hard to focus on homework related to your major? Those are signs that you’re not engaged with the subject matter. If you find your enthusiasm for your major has waned, it may be time to look for a new one. Once you lack focus, your grades can slip, which could ruin your standing in the program, endanger your financial aid, and sink your overall GPA. Before you get to that point, explore other subjects that do hold your interest.

2. Switch Majors When Yours No Longer Aligns with Your Career Goals

When you chose your major, you may have only had a vague idea of what you wanted for a career. But after some time in college, you become clearer on what your career goals are and how to achieve them. Once you reassess your career goals, you may find that your major no longer aligns with them. For example, you might have majored in history because you just like the subject, but now you’re thinking of a career in business. That means it might be time to switch to a business major, which fits your new goals.

3. You Become Curious About Another Major

Sometimes the first major you choose is a good fit…until you learn about another major that seems like an even better fit. Maybe you just met someone majoring in athletic training, and with your passion for sports and interest in medicine, you decide to pursue that career path instead. Or maybe you’ve spent a lot of time writing and are curious about the classes you’d take as an English major. If you feel yourself pulled in another direction, do some research to see what career paths you could take with that major. Talk with your academic advisor and seek some advice from family and friends to see if another major might be a better fit for you.

4. Your Major Highlights Your Weaknesses, Not Your Strengths

Somehow you wound up in a major where most of the classes you take are very difficult for you. Maybe you opted to be a business major because you knew lots of other students heading down that route. But now you find courses in accounting, economics, and finance and you’re barely getting by. You’re disengaged and discouraged from learning because most of the courses remind you of the subjects you’re not good at. Consider a new major that highlights your strengths rather than your weaknesses. If you’ve always been a better writer than mathematician, look into English, marketing, or education majors instead. While you should be challenged by college classes, you shouldn’t choose a subject that frustrates you or is a total mismatch to your skill set. You’re going to put those skills to practice in your career, so choose something that you’re good at and that you will enjoy now and into the future.

5. You Didn’t Like Your Internship

Many schools encourage students to get jobs or internships related to their major while they’re still in school. It’s a way to test out the career waters before actually being in the career. If you were lucky enough to land one, you may have found it wasn’t what you imagined. That doesn’t mean you need to switch careers or majors, but if you feel the experience was representative of the job you might have in the future, it’s time to do some research.