A change of major can be a great thing. Just make sure you’ve thought it through.
1. “Why do I want to change my major?”
This may seem like a simple question but it is arguably the most important. Are you changing your major because your parents want you to? Are you changing your major because you’re worried about getting a job or making money? Are you changing because you hate what you’re doing? Are you changing because you are curious about something else? All of these are important questions and factor into your decision. However, for the most fulfilling outcome of a major change, you’ll find that if your heart is calling you to the change, that is most important.
2. “Are you acting out of fear?”
Sometimes people change their major because they are scared. Scared of the work it’ll take to graduate, scared that they won’t get a job, scared they will never be successful. Fear of the unknown is a large part of college. However, anything worth having takes work and sacrifice. Don’t jump ship just because things are getting tough.
3. “Have you looked at what your new major entails?”
When I changed my major from Film to Journalism, one of the first things I did was check the major requirements. I saw how many courses I needed to take and what those courses were. I found some of the classes to be very interesting and found myself excited about what’s to come. I can’t stress the importance of this enough. If only I had checked the required courses for my film major, I would have found out way earlier that screenwriting classes (what I really wanted to do) were very few and far between.
4. “Can I afford it?”
I know, I know, Debby downer. However, money is a major concern for many people. Depending on how far along you are in your college courses, a major change could mean years more in tuition. You may not be able to take on the debt at the moment. Maybe consider graduating, getting a temporary job, then going back to school for what you are truly passionate about.
5. “What job do I want?”
This one is so important. Many of us tend to get lost in the magic of the major, and forget that it’s just a stepping stone to a possible job. Just because you graduated with a degree in theatre doesn’t mean you’re going to be on Broadway after graduation. Look up job listings asking for people with your major to see what’s out there. Go to job fairs and talk to alumni with your profession. College can be an amazing care free and educational time, but the goal is to have a job afterwards so make sure you are thinking about what’s next!
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