On average, one in 10 students will change their major more than once within the first three years of college. This is more common than most people think, with at least 80% of students switching within the first year of their major. This could be due to changing career paths, interests and even peer influence.
After completing an informal survey in the Holland Centennial Commons by asking 50 people if they did change their major, including students, over 60% said they changed their major at some point during their education. However, some students said they never declared a major, or they didn’t know what they wanted to major in.
Brianna Iverson, a career coach at Utah Tech University, said this semester they had 160 students come into Career Services to receive help, while from July 2023 to July 2024, that number was 326.
However, this number is specific to Career Services and doesn’t include students who see their advisers to officially change their majors. But despite this, the number has significantly increased this semester alone.
“If you’re in a major that isn’t good for you, it may take longer to graduate, but you may be more fulfilled in the long term,” Iverson said.
Career Services has many resources for students who are interested in changing their major. On their website, under the resources tab, there are three different resources that can help students either narrow down on a major or explore possible jobs.
Some of these resources include:
Additionally, students can also speak with a career coach if they need help deciding what to do. When students plan to change their major, Iverson said first, students should make an appointment with an academic adviser who works in the major they want to switch to. But before doing this, she suggested that students should talk to professors, explore classes and gather information to make an informed decision.
Exploring classes is one of many ways students can decide what they want to major in. This way, students can explore classes in various fields they are interested in, alongside their general education courses. In fact, Iverson said the second largest college at Utah Tech is the University College, which is specific to students who are majoring in general studies or are undeclared.
This provides students with the opportunity to explore various options before deciding on a major that requires certain classes.
It’s common and completely normal for students to switch their majors, especially as a freshman.
Shinfei Quek, a senior communications major from Phoenix, first came to Utah Tech as a biology major. Quek said he changed his major because his previous one wasn’t as suitable to his career choice of becoming a lawyer, so he chose one that would give him the necessary skills needed to succeed in his new field.
“Biology was giving me a lot of stress, and I realized that this career choice of becoming a doctor wasn’t right for me,” Quek said.
Despite this change, Quek is graduating in his third year of college—just one year ahead of his peers. He spoke with the biology adviser and then spoke with the communications adviser to ensure he would be on the right track.
“I think it’s OK to want to change your major, but at the same time, I would advise against switching them like you do socks,” Quek said. “At the first sign of a challenge, don’t just switch it, make a careful and informed decision first.”
Chasta Chamberlain, a junior English major from St. George, first majored in integrated studies, then she changed her emphasis before switching to English. She said she was very depressed and didn’t feel happy in her classes, but once she switched her major to English, her mental health drastically improved.
“At first, I thought about switching to English because I found out I really loved writing after my 2010 English class,” Chamberlain said. “I felt fulfilled, I felt satisfied, I was proud of what I was doing, and I wasn’t depressed anymore.”
The American Psychological Association reported that 45.6% of college students surveyed reported feeling hopeless, while 30.7% reported feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function for 12 months. The APA states this could be due to high stress levels, and it is entirely possible being in the wrong major could contribute to this significantly.
When a student declares a major, they may realize that it just doesn’t suit them, and it’s completely normal. However, with the resources available, such as career services, academic advising and major exploration websites, students can make an informed decision about what is right for them.
