by Dyneisha Kornegay
Staying in the wrong major can be catastrophic.
Students change their majors for a variety of reasons and often realize what they’re learning isn’t what they want to study. For some students, this happens more often.
According to collegeparents.org, 66 percent of students base their major of a career they are interested in.
Students are encouraged to explore their options and figure out what they want to do. Brittney Johnson, an academic counselor at OU, said she starts by speaking with unsure students to get a feel for what they can see themselves doing in life.
Next, she gives them a list of all the degrees offered at the university and has them mark off the ones they don’t enjoy, the ones they want more information on and highlight the ones that sound interesting.
Lastly, she schedules the students to meet with a major exploration coach. Johnson said she understands that students are young and trying to find their way in life while figuring out who they are as a person.
“Because they haven’t established their identities yet, it’s kind of difficult for them to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives,” Johnson said.
Students often focus on one thing going through high school and might never think of other options. Some students aren’t even sure of all the courses offered at their college. Johnson believes factors such as lack of exposure or not following their own voices plays a big role in the uncertainty of choosing majors.
Students should not fear uncertainty about choosing the right major. Students should especially use the resources that their college offers to ensure that they will be put in the right classes.
“Don’t be afraid to take a fun course. Don’t be afraid to take a class you could possibly major in,” Johnson said.
Choosing a college major doesn’t have to be a burden. Although the number of majors available are overwhelming and the urge to have everything figured out lingers in students’ minds. Students should know that being unsure allows them to explore and gather all the information they need to find the right major.
While some students might get it right the first time, others try multiple times to feel confident in the major they have chosen. Carah Hollaway said changing her major wasn’t hard and that is was a smooth transition. Hollaway ended up changing her major back to the one she originally chose. She said she shouldn’t have changed her major in the first place. She explained how students shouldn’t rush it.
“Take your time. Figure out what your passion is,” Hollaway said.
Reasons students change their majors vary from not liking the material, changing their career choice, not understanding or even boredom. Whatever the case may be, students have the resources to figure it out. Exploring majors is a plight, but with the right guidance, student can get on the right track.
