Just a few short weeks after school started, freshman psychology major Alissa Dubrovsky questioned her choice of studies. “I think I’m going to switch my major to philosophy,” said Dubrovsky.
For a freshman, the idea of choosing a major can be daunting. The decision surrounding how and when to declare a major are undoubtedly gray areas, but when you are aware of what is (and isn’t) at risk, the complexity of picking a major may seem a bit less difficult.
There is a lot of pressure on students to choose a major early in their academic careers. Part of this has to do with finishing on time; if a student switches majors too late, they might not be able to finish the required coursework in time to graduate with their friends, which would entail spending additional money and time in classes when they could be starting their careers.
Although I agree that setting deadlines for students is necessary to prevent them from falling behind, freshman year is too soon to make such a significant decision.
Pressuring students to choose their career path as early as freshman year has little advantage beyond helping students graduate on time. Freshmen spend their first year adjusting to and moving into an entirely new way of life.
“Freshman year is all about finding your groove in college as well as finding out what areas of study interest you the most,” stated senior marketing major Hank Przelenski.
Przelenski has been a freshman orientation leader for the past three years and claims that finding or switching a major is “not something freshmen students should stress about.”
Before deciding on a major, it is better for students to take the time to become acclimated to college, both intellectually and socially. Choosing a major early on should be an option for students, but there shouldn’t be too much pressure to do so as early as their freshman year.
“For me, it wasn’t even until junior year that I finally had a grasp on my life at LMU,” explained Luke Masuret, senior communication studies major. “Starting undecided allows you to take your time to properly weigh your options instead of jumping into a major with limited knowledge of what you are getting into,” said Masuret.
If you want to switch majors, it is preferable to take your time in the beginning to figure out what you enjoy. Suppose you chose a major that at the time you believed to be wise, but you now find to be less than ideal. You might feel trapped, backed into a corner and as though your decision is final. Fortunately, you have the option of changing your major to one that you might enjoy more.
LMU has a variety of classes you can choose from. Senior orientation leader and marketing major Ben Brookbanks explained, “Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts (BCLA) alone offers [23] different majors, and while the pressure to just pick one is strong, LMU gives freshmen a unique opportunity to explore so many different academic offerings and they should make the most of it.”
Students grappling with their selected major should look at some upper-division electives and general education courses that will enable them to explore topics of interest. Those “annoying” or “random” classes actually can assist you in discovering a true passion.
“LMU freshmen have the amazing opportunity to take classes as a part of the University core curriculum to expose them to a variety of topics and ideas outside of their chosen major,” said Brookbanks.
Your academic advisor can also assist you in maintaining your course of study while you are contemplating several majors or minors.
For those who are hesitant to take that leap of faith, the idea that the grass might be greener on the other side has the potential to make you question your path. When deciding to switch majors, there are some steps to take into account. Switching majors is definitely not a mistake when done with the right evaluation and guidance.
“The hardest part about switching majors is honestly just taking the personal initiative. Once you get the ball rolling, it is fairly easy with the amazing advising staff and faculty at LMU,” explained Przelenski.
You can learn a lot from professors and students to decide if you want to change or add an alternative major. Listen to their perspectives and suggestions — after all, they are here to help.
Your college major does not have to be the career you choose. When reviewing your application, employers and graduate schools consider a lot more than simply your degree; they also take into account your leadership in student organizations, your volunteering experience, paid work experience and many other factors.
Freshmen, take a deep breath and relax. I know things may seem stressful and overwhelming right now, but you will all be just fine. Keep an open mind about various areas of studies, but you don’t need to rush and change your major yet.
You have four years to specialize in something. Have fun and take this first year to explore.
This is the opinion of Jessica Mingalone, a senior journalism major from Upper Saddle River, NJ. Email comments to editor@theloyolan.com. Follow and tweet comments to @LALoyolan on Twitter, and like the Loyolan on Facebook.