Top 6 Signs That You Have Chosen the Wrong Major

By Juliette Morgan

 

There are many factors that can influence your choice of a major. Some of them are positive. Your choice in major might reflect your passions, talents, and curiosities. You may have chosen your major because you believe it will lead you to opportunities to be of service to others or to pursue your dreams.

On the other hand, your choice in majors could reflect family and societal pressures. Many students choose majors because they are told that their true preferences aren’t practical or they are pressured by parents to go into the same fields as other family members.

No matter has led you to the major you have chosen, there is always a possibility that you have made the wrong choice. Obviously, if you have been pressured into a major, that’s a bad thing. On the other hand, simply having a talent or passion for something doesn’t mean that it is a good fit for you as a college major let alone a life-time career.

If you are unsure of your choice in majors, keep reading. Here are six signs that you may need to rethink your choice

 

1. You Find Yourself Getting Lost in Classes Related to Your Major

 

While he was in high school, J. was a stellar art student. His paintings were shown in a cafe in his town, he won scholarships to art camps each summer, and he even earned permission to complete an independent study art project during his senior year. It seemed natural that he major in art when he started college.

When he started, J.was enthused about going to his art classes. By midterm, he was miserable. He just slipping further and further behind. During studio classes, it became more and more clear that he just didn’t have the skills that his peers did. In classes where art history and theory were discussed, J. simply didn’t have the depth of understanding that the other students did. Ultimately, it became clear that while J. was a talented artist, his natural abilities simply did not run deep enough for him to make art a career.

Anybody struggling in more than one class related to their major, may want to reconsider their path.

 

2. The More You Spend Time in Your Area of Concentration The Less You Enjoy It

A’s dilemma was a bit different. She chose to major in Mass Communications with a goal of going into radio broadcasting. Her classes came easy to her, and she even picked up part-time work at a local radio station. The only problem was that the further she progressed, the unhappier she became. Unfortunately, because she was successful, she found it difficult to get people to understand why she was unhappy.

Talent is important, but that shouldn’t overshadow the importance of personal satisfaction.

 

3. You Cannot Clearly Define Why You Picked Your Major

Why did you choose Finance? It’s an innocent enough question, but D. cringed every time someone asked him that question. He couldn’t answer it without stumbling over his words. He chose his major when he was 18, because financial aid demanded that he do so. Choosing something business related just seemed safe.

Now, while his friends could talk about their majors and hopes for the future with excitement, D. would just mumble something about maybe working for a good company.  It’s a shame that so many college students feel pressured to choose their paths so early.

 

4. Your Classes Are Boring

 

1. didn’t consider changing majors for a full year. He just assumed that he wasn’t hitting it off with a couple of his professors and that classes the next year would be more engaging. They weren’t. This was when he had to face the fact that it was the major itself that he found boring. In his case, the idea of video game development was much more exciting than the detailed work it actually entailed.

Eventually, G. stayed in the same department, but changed majors. Art direction allowed him to pursue his dream of working for a video game studio, without forcing him into a major that was a bad fit.

 

5. It’s a Struggle to Find Your Place in Your Department

If you hit your junior year in school, and have yet to find your place in your academic department, it might be time to take a step back. Is this just a reflection of a less than welcoming or cliquish department, or is it something else? Will you also struggle to fit in on the job?

This was something that Z. had to face. She loved sports and being outdoors, so she decided to major in Recreation. The only problem was that the other students were outgoing and gregarious. She was quiet and reserved. The other students were certainly nice to her, but the personality differences made her the odd one out. Eventually, she had to acknowledge that her temperament may cause her troubles if she pursued her chosen field.

 

6. You Feel Resentful Towards Friends or Family Members

I never wanted to be an engineer! You just wouldn’t leave me alone about it! Those were tough words to say, but after three years, Q. felt better once they were out. He isn’t alone. Each year students choose majors that don’t really interest them due to subtle and not so subtle pressure from others. Eventually, they become angry and resentful.

Conclusion

There may be worst things than pursuing the wrong major, but as a college student, it can be hard to imagine what that might be. It is so important to choose a major that interests you and reflects your talent. Students who do find that they aren’t happy with their majors should certainly look into transitioning into something more fitting. Even if it means an extra year at school, it is more than worth the effort to save a decades-long career.

Juliette finished her studies at 2015. And now she works as a blog editor at SupremeDissertations.com. At the same time, Juliette is working as a blogger at different resources. She writes about educational process, students` life, parenting (especially with teens), etc.