Your Major, Your Decision | Lexi Cortes
It is not unusual to change your major. Or to change it again… and again. Studies show that the majority of college students will change their major at least once.
When a student begins schooling at the college level they are around the age of 18, usually. I haven’t come in contact with many 18-year-olds who know exactly what they want to do with the rest of their lives.
I started out my freshman year as a nursing major. Then I entertained the idea of physical therapy, then occupational therapy. I researched art therapy. As of right now, I am happy with mass communications – pretty big jump from something in the medical field to journalism. But that’s okay.
My ideas about what I wanted to major in changed as I took different classes. I may decide mass communications isn’t for me the longer I study it.
If you’ve gone back and forth with your major, don’t worry. Eventually you will find something that interests you. Some programs may be competitive, like nursing, and people will tell you to get an early start and take all the classes you can so you can apply early to get into the program.
I don’t see the need to rush. Take your time and don’t stress. Academic advisors are there to help, but every one of them will tell you something different – a different route to take, different classes, it’s all just an opinion. Ultimately it has to be up to you. That’s the cool thing about college: you choose.
You make your own schedule, you choose your classes, you choose your professors, etc. If you find a class you think might be interesting, but it doesn’t go toward your “expected major,” take it anyway! It could always be an elective. And who knows, it might end up being the thing you love and decide to do with the rest of your life.
As long as you enjoy what you’re doing, it doesn’t really matter if it is a popular degree. The crossword puzzle editor of the New York Times, Will Shortz, majored in enigmatology, the study of puzzles, at Indiana University. That’s just one example of somebody taking what they like and what they’re good at and making a career out of it. It can be done.
