Things to Consider Before You Change Majors

Before you change college majors there are a few things you should know. I myself have been through changing majors and I wish I had known about some of the issues it causes. Here are some vital pieces of information:

1. Lost credits –First of all, when you change majors many times you will lose some of your hard earned credits. This is especially true if you change to a highly unrelated major. Going from science to English for example will put you far behind your peers who have been in the program for a long time. Is it worth it?
   
2. A degree is a degree – I ask if it is worth it because in the eyes of many employers a degree is a degree. Unless you are going for a very education specific job, like chemistry, it does not really matter what degree you get as long as you get one. Someone with an English degree can work as an HR person and someone with an accounting degree can work as a manager. All that matters is that you use that degree to get to the field you want.
   
3. Do your research – Before you decide to change majors, ask yourself if it will really help. Do your research and find out how many credits you need on your current major versus your new one. Will it keep you in school forever? Is there a major that falls somewhere in between that will mean less lost credits? If you know what you are getting into before you make a change you will be better off.
   
4. Know your options – There are many options besides changing your major. You can talk to your adviser about alternate ways to finish your current major. You can look into interdisciplinary majors that will allow you to keep your credits and do something new. You can even suck it up and finish your major you picked while pursuing other classes as electives. You can use those electives on your resume as evidence that you are qualified for position and even continue on to get a Master’s degree in a totally different field than the one you got your Bachelor’s in.

There are many other options than changing your major, especially when you are more than halfway through. Take your time and seriously consider the effects of the change before you leap into something new. Is it worth it?

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About the Author

Blogging was a natural progression for Allison once she graduated from college, as it allowed her to combine her two passions: writing and children. She has enjoyed furthering her writing career with www.nannyclassifieds.com. She can be in touch through e-mail allisonDOTnannyclassifiedsATgmailDOTcom.