As you spend more time in college, you might find that the major you chose no longer fits with your interests and that you want to know the steps needed to change majors in college. Colleges often ask you about your interests when you first apply and ask you to declare a major during your freshman year of school. Changing your major can have a big impact on your life, but you can switch to a new major when you follow the right steps.
Visit the Career Center
The steps needed to change majors in college varies from college to college. Before you decide to declare a new major, consider stopping by the career center on campus. Advisers and career counselors can give you assessment tests that look at your responses to different questions to determine the best types of careers for you. Counselors may also recommend that you take tests that look for signs of learning disabilities, especially if you have problems keeping up with your current course load. Those tests can help you decide what major is best for you.
Talk with Your Adviser
Before you can switch your major, you need to meet with your adviser. When you first declare a major, the department where you study will assign you a professor as an adviser. The professor will work with you to ensure that you register for and take the right classes to complete your major. You will need to explain to your adviser why you want to change your major, what you want to switch to and get permission. The adviser may talk with you about the possibility of double majoring in your current field of study and a second topic.
Complete the Paperwork
As part of changing your major, you will need to complete some paperwork. You typically need to request a form from the career development office or the dean of students. The form will ask you to list your current major, your new major and your reasons for changing. It should also include a space at the bottom where your adviser will sign off on the change. Some colleges may require that you meet with a potential adviser from the new department. The adviser can give you some useful information and agree to let you join the program.
Before Making a Change
Even after learning the steps needed to change majors in college, you shouldn’t make a switch without giving it some serious thought. Julie Mayfield of U.S. News and World Report points out that changing your major may have some financial implications you didn’t consider. When you move from one major to a second major, you will likely need to take completely different classes. Not only will this add to the cost of your education, but it will also add to the amount of time that you spend in school. Changing majors during your sophomore year or later may lead to you spending an additional year or more in college.
Related Resource: How College Exams are Different From High School Exams
Changing your majors gives you the chance to study a topic you actually love and one that will assist you in finding a job later. Most schools require that you follow the same steps needed to change majors in college, including meeting with your adviser and getting permission to switch your major.
