Four Tips on How to Switch your Major

By Benjamin Camp – Staff Writer

In my first semester of college in the fall of 2021, I began as a mechanical engineering major. Eventually, through serious deliberation, I chose to switch to journalism & electronic media. The process was difficult and anxiety-inducing, but not impossible. Here are a few tips from my experience to make your experience a little easier.   

1. Ask yourself: “What do I want to do for the rest of my life?” This question is necessary in helping you decide which major you want to pursue. There are other questions that expand from the first question: What do you like? What do you want to accomplish? Think of your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to skills, because that will guide you toward a major of interest.  

2. Research majors that apply to your interest. Look at the list of majors that are offered at The University of Scranton and dig deeper by looking at the required courses, the number of credits that need completion, and the statistics for salary to percentage of job offerings after graduating college. The facts will guide you to making an informed decision.  

3. Ask a professor or another student (an upperclassmen for example) for advice. They will be able to give advice on how to either improve within a course or understand what your role will be in the workforce with your current major. Making connections with, and asking advice from alumni is also incredibly important.  

4. If the major does not work out, ask an advisor for help to determine what you want to pursue next. They will help you get your major switched and classes registered for that major.  

Switching majors is very common, so if you feel alone switching majors, just know that there are other people at the University changing majors as well. According to withfrank.org, “At least 80% of college students change their major throughout their college career.”  

There are multiple reasons why college students change their careers, including “They were not interested in the material they were learning or studying”, or “Their previous major was not enjoyable, and they needed a change.”  

Switching majors is full of emotions but following the advice at hand will be the best answer to knowing which path should be taken. Do something that makes you feel passionate while impacting the life of others.