Why It's OK to Change Your Major
College students often question whether they are in the right major.
Many majors have difficult classes early in the curriculum that help push students to decide if that major is the right one for them. Some people feel that they are stuck with the major they chose when they came into college, but this could not be further from the truth. If you are nervous about changing your major, let’s discuss some reasons you shouldn’t be.
Core Classes
First, the classes you have already taken are not going to go to waste! Many of the classes you take within your first few semesters at Auburn are core classes that are required for every major. For the classes that do not directly transfer, you have still benefited from taking them. For example, they still count towards your overall GPA. Also, these classes may have helped you make an informed decision about changing your major.
Building Community
Next, you will likely do better in your new major classes because you will be more excited about the material. It is difficult to give a class your all when you are not eager to learn about the content. However, a new major might offer new topics that encourage you to engage with the class excitedly. The people who are in these majors will also be interested in these topics, so you will be around like-minded individuals. Having common interests can help build community in your new classes. Being an avid learner and a part of a community will make you a better student and more knowledgeable of the field you are going to go into after graduation.
Think Long-Term
Speaking of post-grad, we all know that college does not last forever. It is important to take steps in college that are going to set you up for success long term. College is a small portion of your life compared to the time you will spend working in your chosen field after graduation. You should think through what major would be the best choice for you in all aspects of your life. If you do not enjoy doing work in your field for classes now, you likely will not enjoy working with these topics in a full-time job. If you are in a field that you are excited about, graduation will be something to look forward to.
Overall, changing your major can be scary, but it is important to be excited! There are so many majors to choose from, so you can pick the one that is right for you. A new major can provide opportunities that you never saw coming, and you will thank yourself for thinking about life after college while you were an undergraduate.
Be Well, Auburn.
Emme was born and raised in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. She fell in love with Auburn after attending an Auburn Equestrian Summer Camp as a Junior. She is a Graphic Design Major with a minor in Marketing. Emme is involved within her college as the Director of Design and Media for the College of Architecture Design and Construction Student Council.
When she isn’t in the studio, Emme enjoys spending time with friends, attending pilates classes, and hanging out with her dog, Bingo. After graduation, she hopes to be living in the mountains and working in package or logo design for a company that allows her to express her creativity.
