The Art of Switching Majors
Photo by Javier Allegue Barros on Unsplash
At the young age of 18, high school students are told that they need to make the life-altering decision of choosing what field they would like to work in for the rest of their lives. For some who have known for a while what they are interested in, this decision is made easier. However, for others - myself included - the decision not only seems impossible but never really decided.
We then go to university with the expectation from others that we know precisely what degree we will work towards and obtain. Still, this is based on a decision possibly made to please your parents, meet the expectations society has of you, or because of the ‘follow the herd’ mentality.
The truth is, not all of us are genuinely sure that what we’re aiming for is what we want or what we would sincerely enjoy doing in the future. After getting the chance to experience a few different classes, you might spark up a whole new interest in something you had never even considered before. What this may lead to is a switch in majors or even programs entirely. I know, it’s terrifying! The idea of sailing off course and potentially delaying your degree as well as possibly paying more money is no light matter.
On top of this, students, more specifically higher-level students, may be judged harder by family or friends for deciding to make a switch. But changing majors is entirely normal and a lot more common than you think. According to the University of Toronto, 20-50% of students entering university haven’t decided on their major yet, and around 50-70% of students will change their majors at least once while getting their degree.
Changing majors can at times be seen as unfavourable, as if the student doing so is aimless. But this is far from the truth, and quite honestly, it should be expected to happen. At 18, you made a decision that impacts your entire life in an ever-changing world without exposure to all the potential fields of study. Taking this action means that you are navigating your way through your career path with abundant options. As a student, you should never feel ashamed for exploring these options and taking the opportunity to learn what you do and don’t like. Even if it does take a while to find the right fit for you, don’t let the pressure of others force you into something that would only leave you dissatisfied.
Going straight into post-secondary education after high school may not work for everyone. This is especially true for those who are uncertain about what it is they want to study. In this case, going into post-secondary education could be a waste of your time and money. Instead, taking a year or so off school could be very beneficial, where you could use the time to work and save money and look further into various fields of study and career options that could be of interest.
Think About Why You Want to Change Majors or Programs
Since changing majors or programs has many implications, it should be well thought out as you wouldn’t want to make a decision based only on an impulse. Is it simply a particular course that you don’t like? Is your major or program more demanding than you had anticipated? Are you just feeling overwhelmed or burnt out from all the demands of life? Do you feel uncertain about your future career? These are all great questions to ask yourself when considering this change.
If it is that one crippling course, maybe that’s one field in a whole career of other options to avoid, or even a professor to avoid in the future. If your program is more demanding than you had thought it would be, think about why you chose it to begin with - no one ever said your passion had to be easy. If you’re feeling overwhelmed from having too many responsibilities, try to find a balance and engage in activities that could take the stress away. You might even be overwhelmed by the feeling that your major isn’t right for you, an important distinction to make. If your major is the source of these emotions, definitely look into changing it and giving yourself more peace of mind. If you begin to feel uncertain about your career choice, look into the many other options, especially those you hadn’t considered before.
Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash
Of course, there are also questions about what it might mean for you to make this switch. Are you comfortable with adding an extra semester or two to your degree? Some students would prefer to get out into the world and start working as soon as possible, which makes absolute sense. It’s also important to realize that an extra year in school to increase your chances of being happy later in life could very much be worth it.
Last but certainly not least, you should be sure that you can afford the extra courses. Although many students work a part-time job, this usually isn’t enough to cover tuition, books, rent, and food. Fortunately, Saint Mary’s University does offer several scholarships and bursaries for undergraduate students to help finance their education. In addition, be sure to familiarize yourself with your home province’s student loans, as loans and grants often increase after a certain number of years post-high school. These increasing loans and grants make it easier to fund your education even if you are in school for a few years.
All this is a lot to consider and plan out. So, it would be a good idea to talk to someone who doesn’t have a preconceived and strict judgement about switching majors or career choices. You should be sure that the decision is coming entirely from yourself.
Useful Resources
Some guidance can never do any harm when making such a big decision, and SMU provides the necessities to assist its students.
If you are considering a whole different field or program, take a look into the career options for the said program. Talk to people who have experience within the program/field of your interest to get an idea of what it might look like. You may want to talk to a SMU Career Counsellor to gain insight into potential career paths. Having had sessions with one myself, I can say with confidence that career counsellors are indeed equipped with the tools needed to help you explore your options with much-needed guidance. I had some misconceptions about programs and careers that I was considering that were quickly debunked.
To officially make the switch, an academic advisor is who you want to talk to. They can also help you determine what requirements you need to fulfill and how long it would take you to complete your degree.
With these resources, and hopefully some more insight, you shouldn’t feel like the choice you initially made is the one you have to stick to. So much will change during this time in our lives, so who’s to say that our major, program, and career choices can’t change too? Switching majors or programs is so much more common than we are all led to believe when going into university. Give yourself the time to explore the options that you didn’t always have in front of you. Remember, it’s normal to change your mind, and we can’t have it all figured out just yet. It’s unrealistic to think you should have everything worked out coming out of high school. For whatever reason, if you feel that your major isn’t for you, don’t be afraid to make the change. Future you will certainly be thanking you for it.
Reference
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers/career-planning/career-planning-year/choosing-your-program