College is a student’s first step into the adulting world and that comes with new pressures as well as new opportunities. Many campuses offer extracurricular activities that can help students grow outside of the classroom. After spending a few years on campus, it is common for students to want to branch out of their original majors and study subjects they’re more passionate about. Lets’ know about How Many Times Do College Students Change Their Major.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 80% of college students change their majors. Students switch out of an average of three majors during their college careers. These changes can be motivated by a variety of factors such as not being interested in what they were learning, not enjoying their learning environment, and being rushed into deciding their majors by peers or caregivers. We will delve into these reasons in depth below.
Reasons Why Student Change Their Majors;
One reason that students end up switching majors is that they discover they are not interested in what they’re learning. Sometimes college freshmen enter their programs having an idea of what their major is like only to realize that it doesn’t quite live up to their expectations. For example, someone who thrived in high school biology may enter a genetics class and find that the material is no longer enjoyable to them.
Another reason that students end up switching majors is that their learning environment wasn’t a great fit for them. This could be due to challenging lectures or confusing labs. Both of these situations can lead to decreased satisfaction in a student’s learning environment and consequently bad grades.
A third reason why students end up switching majors is that they were rushed into making a decision. This could be due to well-intentioned parents prompting them to select a career they believe would lead to a prosperous future for their child. Another possibility is receiving news of admission close to class enrollment day which would add pressure on the individual to select something to ensure they could attend classes during the semester. Both of these situations can cause students to ignore their passions and pursue a safer albeit less fulfilling major.
What should you do if you want to switch majors?
Step 1: Research
Research your options and ask yourself the following:
- What courses did I enjoy taking?
- Is there a demand for this career?
- Do I think I could be successful in it?
Step 2: Consult your academic advisor
Most campuses have an academic advisor to assist students in making decisions about programs, transfer credits, and other academic concerns. Book an appointment with the advisor to discuss:
- How many more credits you’ll need to take
- If you’ll be able to graduate on time or if you’ll need to wait a few more years
- Graduation requirements for your new major
Step 3: Reassess your options
Once the appointment with your advisor is complete, it is important to review your notes and use them to weigh the pros and cons of switching your major. For example, one pro may be that you have a higher GPA because you’re studying what you love. However, this could come at the expense of more student loans and later graduation dates.
Step 4: Make a choice
After looking at your options and understanding the pros and cons of each, you’re ready to decide whether or not you want to switch your major.
Which college majors get switched the most?
According to “Beginning College Students Who Change Their Majors Within Three Years of Enrollment”, a 2017 report by the US Department of Education, the top 5 majors switched were:
- Math (52%)
The courses needed to graduate with a bachelor of mathematics were too difficult which led to students switching to majors that would give them a higher chance of graduating.
- Natural Sciences (40%)
Like mathematics, the difficult freshman courses associated with these degrees often deter students from completing them.
- Education (37%)
- Humanities (36%)
Students who left the humanities may have done so to pursue careers with better job prospects.
- STEM (35%)
According to David Evans, the executive director at the National Science Teachers Association, a possible reason is the teaching style in university STEM courses which often filter out students in the first two years of their programs. This style of teaching is distinct from the personal connections high school students can make to the subjects they’re learning, courtesy of smaller class sizes.
Which college majors get switched the least?
Computer, information technology, and healthcare majors had the lowest rates of major switches at 28 and 26% respectively. These statistics have been attributed to possessing a lot of knowledge about computers before starting university and the healthcare field attracting individuals who are committed to helping people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a lack of interest in major prerequisites, a challenging learning environment and a rushed decision contribute to reduced satisfaction in college majors.
