For some students, the major they thought they’d love, turns out to be the exact opposite. But should they worry about making the change to another discipline? When is it too late?
For fourth-year St. Thomas University student Maita Misago, the reality of making the wrong choice set in during her second year of journalism, when she decided to switch to a criminology major.
“You go into it so determined and settled on the fact that this is what you want to do and when you realize it’s not what you want to do, you have to reassess what you like and don’t like,” said Misago. “I think realizing you don’t know yourself and not knowing where you’re going is the scary thing.”
Misago had doubts early on, but convinced herself everyone has doubts and she should stick with her initial major.
She realizes now her gut feeling about making the change was right and feels others should trust they’re making the right choice too.
“The sooner you switch, the easier it is because you have so much more time. You don’t have to overload and stress about it. As soon as it starts to feel wrong try to start looking at other classes to see if that’s a better fit.”
She said a difficult part of switching majors is adapting to the different styles of teaching and learning. She found journalism to be more hands on, while in criminology they teach you concepts and hope you understand them.
With some overloading in her third year, Misago was able to be back on track to graduate in four years.
“Even if you have to go an extra year, it’s better than suffering through four years of something you don’t like … It’s going to be scary, but it shouldn’t be something you don’t do. Just go for it,” said Misago.
Adriana Figueroa, a third-year student at St. Thomas, made the opposite change and switched from criminology to journalism.
“I didn’t like criminology and I was doubting it my whole second year,” said Figueroa. “At the end of my second year, I decided to change majors.”
Figueroa found switching very easy. She didn’t talk to professors, but with the help of friends she was able to choose the courses she needed.
She feels by the second semester of second year students should decide what major or path they want to take.
Academic adviser Shauna Foote says it’s normal for students to change their mind in their second or even third year after being exposed to the major they thought they wanted.
“Ideally you would have it all figured out by Christmas of second year, but the end of second year is fine,” said Foote.
She said there really isn’t a point of no return until students get half way through third or into fourth year. Even if they decide to change that late, it may require them to take an additional semester or year of studies.
Foote said meeting with a department adviser in that department or an academic adviser can help students navigate through the transition.
Even though Figueroa may not graduate in four years, she thinks it was worth making the change and encourages students who want to do the same thing to not worry.
“This is what you’re going to live for; you’re going to have to wake up every morning and deal with what you choose.”
