Changing your major senior year is enough to make any of us have one last undergraduate panic attack. Doing so adds to the belief that we need to graduate in four years and get an adult job, but making the leap could change your life for the better. Here are some tips and encouragement to make the transition easier.
Do your research: Changing your major can be scary no matter when you’re doing it. Make sure you educate yourself on the major and figure out what classes you need to complete the degree and if there’s any prerequisites for the upper-level classes.
Talk it over with close friends and family: Don’t let anyone influence you negatively when changing your major. This can halt your progress and make you second guess yourself. If you’re upset that they don’t agree, it’s probably a sign that you really want to change your major anyway. No one can live your life for you, so don’t chose a path you didn’t pave yourself. Your happiness could suffer.
Talk to your new college: Go to the senior college that houses the major you’re considering and ask them to go through a degree audit with you. These people are trained to know the ins and outs of every major in that specific college. They can answer all of your questions and help you come up with a game plan for changing your major.
Ignore the extra semesters: Don’t let the extra semester or two stop you. An extra year of college is better than a lifelong feeling of unhappiness and doubt. A study done by Complete College America concluded that only 36 percent of students graduate in 4 years and most undergraduates take 6 years. So focus on the long term goal.
Think about grad school: Taking the Graduate Record Examinations and applying to grad school could be the next best thing other than changing your major now. There’s many graduate programs and there’s no rule says you have to graduate in one major to pursue a different one in grad school.
Consider a minor: If you only have two classes left in your major, it could be a good idea to get a minor so you won’t feel like you wasted your time and money. There’s probably going to be an extra semester or two, but having mastered two areas looks really good on a résumé.
Follow your heart: As cliché as it sounds, you know in your heart what you want to do. Sometimes you have to turn your brain off and just go with what makes you happy. Ignore the money and time for a second and think about your future.
Drop in on a class: If you’ve only thought about a different major but haven’t had any experience with the classes or environment, drop in on a class. The professors won’t mind, especially if it’s a large class. If it’s small, just email them. Just don’t show up on test day–that would be awkward.
Visit the Career Center: The University’s career center has tons of resources that can help make the decision easier. One of my favorites is the personality assessment that gives you career suggestions based on your interests and possible majors. It could provide the reassurance you need.
Consider your grades: If your grades are suffering, it could be a sign that you aren’t interested in the material. Changing your major to something you love will make you love learning again, trust me.