I decided to write this after reading about a communications student who transferred because the school “wasn’t challenging enough.”
A little context before I begin: one of my friends at HPU was in the Communications department, loved it, and has now been with a major news organization for over five years. So when I saw that post, it made me reflect on how different academic experiences can be — even at the same school.
As a past student who’s now back finishing my degree — and as someone who graduated high school with a 3.9 GPA while lettering in three sports — I can tell you firsthand: the major matters.
I started at HPU as a Computer Science major while playing a Division I sport. It didn’t take long to realize how demanding that combination was. I barely had time outside of practice and class to even complete half of my assignments. Computer Science was easily one of the most challenging programs on campus — it required deep focus, problem-solving, and hours of practice.
Eventually, I switched to Human Relations (which isn’t offered anymore). That transition was a big change. The coursework felt much easier, mainly because there wasn’t much critical thinking required. I’d describe it as 80% repetitive “drone” work and only 20% real brain work. It was straightforward — not bad, but not mentally demanding either.
By comparison, Computer Science felt like 75–80% brain work and 15–20% drone work — far more time-consuming and conceptually challenging.
I ultimately found my balance in Criminal Justice. It’s been challenging, but it feels doable. Courses like Criminal Law have been a blast and have really opened my eyes to how things work in the legal world. It’s the right mix of practical and analytical for me.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that every school has majors that are more or less challenging. Some may be tedious but not difficult, while others require a constant mental grind. The key is finding what challenges you in the right way — something that pushes you but still fits your goals and lifestyle.
At the end of the day, “easy” doesn’t always mean better, and “hard” doesn’t always mean right for you. The major you choose truly shapes your college experience — and sometimes, the challenge is exactly what helps you grow.