I just recently started college and I have been talking to some of the upperclassman. I have been on the fence about my major and have been thinking of switching majors or even schools. In a few of my conversations the upperclassmen told me that was fine and for some people the average of switching majors was 4 times. But one guy told me that he knew some one who had switched majors 8 times in his college career. Is this surprising to anyone? What is the most you have or have heard of some one switching majors? How many times have any of you switched majors?
Why does it matter?
FWIW, if you transfer, your financial situation may be impacted.
The hard part of changing majors is making sure your current classes “fit” your new major. Otherwise, you’ll be adding more years to your time spent at your university.
I would have to say my boyfriend changed majors/schools three times. He was a math major, a forestry major for a semester, and finally a geology major. But he has no debt, has savings, and he funded his education himself. He was also in the Navy for a couple of years. Most of my friends in my department were a couple years old than me and they graduated undergrad at ages 24-30. Personally, I’ve only switched once and it was after my first semester freshman year so I’m graduating in 4 years. But my parents have been helping while most of my friends aren’t as lucky. So I don’t think its a big deal.
In 1988 I went to college and my major was studio art/industrial design
Dropped out and moved to Europe on my own after my freshman year (my parents had no more money for college)
Came back to the US, enrolled in community college at night to get an English Lit degree
Moved to a different state, continued with community college at night and eventually got an AA in English Lit
Then worked at a 4 year college so I could get free classes at night and switched my major to computer science (this was my husband’s graduate degree at the same college).
Immediately realized this was a terrible mistake. I did not have the math foundations to be successful.
DH graduated and I transferred to another 4 year college and went to school full time during the day as an English Lit major.
1 semester before graduation (and having been admitted to the graduate school) he was transferred.
I transferred with him (of course) to a different state and now needed 39 hours at the new 4 year college. sigh
Then we had two kids within 18 months and I took a 17 year break from college.
Now BACK at college, with 140 credit hours under my belt, needing 39 credit hours at this college for my BFA.
Yes, my major is studio arts, and I would really like to get my BfA before I turn 50 :).
So, full circle in terms of majors.
DH started as a ChemE and switched to Computer Science after his junior year. He didn’t get his BS until he was 25, and his MS when he was, um, 26 or 27.
So you can switch, but you have to be aware that it really sets you back in terms of your ability to enter the work force doing something you want to do. DH wishes he had switched immediately.
The Freakonomics guys suggest that failing fast is a better way to do stuff rather than dealing with all the sunk cost and time lost, so I’m inclined to say to you (and my kids) to make the change as soon as you know rationally that you’re on the wrong track, but make sure it is an informed choice. My failed switch to a computer science major reflected that I really was woefully unaware of my strengths and abilities.
Be cognizant of that.
I’m a sophomore and When I went to orientation at my university, the girl who was our groups guide said her friend has changed majors like 9 times. My friend who goes to a different university than me and is currently a freshman has changed her major 3 times just in her first fall semester. As for me I guess you could say I changed my major but not that drastically. I’m and animal science major and at my college animal science is an overall major with 3 subfields, Animal Biology- which is mostly for pre vet/ med, Equine Science, and Food Animal Science. Originally I came in as an Animal Science major- Animal Biology major and by the end of my first fall semester I had switched to Animal Science- Food Animal Option. One year latter and I still have it and I am glad I switched.
What this discussion also means is that if you go into college not quite decided on your major, plan your first year of courses to make progress in all of your possible majors, so that you will not be behind and need extra semesters for whichever one you choose.
For example, do not take calculus for business majors if you are also considering majoring in a subject that requires calculus for math majors. Pay attention to majors that have long prerequisite sequences or voluminous requirements (e.g. engineering, some sciences, and some visual and performing arts) so that you can get started early on them.
Most people in my friend group either never ended up changing their majors or only changed once or twice early on.
But the person I personally know who’s changed her major the most times went something like this her first two years:
ChemE -> Chem -> Civil Engineering (general) -> Statistics (BA) -> Civil Engineering (environmental engineering emphasis) -> Statistics (BS)
So I personally know someone who switched around 5 times, but most of it was between the same two departments. There may be a switch I’m either forgetting or never found out about because it was so short-lived. Regardless, she’s on track to graduate in 4 years, both because the majors she switched around had similar prereqs and because most of it was between civil engineering and statistics.
As far as generally, I’ve heard stories of people changing their major 8 or more times. However I don’t know those people and can’t say whether it’s true or just an exaggeration.
It is obviously easiest to switch from a very structured major (such as engineering) to a less structured one. More people go from STEM to non-STEM than the other way around. In some schools, you add years if you have not started the pre-req’s for more advanced classes freshman year. Often the pre-req are math based so if you start as a math major you may not lose any time by switching to engineering. But if you start as an English major, well unless you are headed for basket weaving, you will probably add a year by switching to a structured demanding curriculum.
I actually went from a non-STEM major (interior design) to a STEM major (geology). I made the switch towards the end of the fall semester when I was a freshman. All the classes I was taking were able to fill up my general eds for the geology major while it was a requirement for interior design. So it worked for me, I took two summer classes and I’m graduating in four years. So you can switch majors without adding years, you just need to plan/be a little lucky.