The Cost of Changing Your Major
Avery
Avery
Avery enjoys playing lacrosse and spending time with friends in the Washington, DC metro area
College is often advertised as a great place to explore your passions and expand your mind. Without a clear career plan at the beginning of college, many students find themselves changing their major during their four years of college as they explore and discover new subjects. In fact, over 50% of students change their major at least once. While this exploration sounds idyllic, it is not without a price.
What's the price?
Changing your major can add time and tuition to an already expensive college degree. If you've already started working towards another major, many of your credits may not transfer to credit for your new major. As a result, you may need to pay for an extra semester of school, costing you thousands of dollars or forcing you to take out additional student loans.
So, I just won't change my major. Right?
A recent study suggested that 61% of recent graduates would choose another major if they could re-do their four years in college. For these graduates, sticking to their original major, even though they'd lost interest, also has adverse side effects. Besides the regret, remaining in a different major can leave graduates ill-prepared for their future careers.
Well, how can I avoid this?
If you want to avoid changing your major or sticking with an inapplicable one, you will want to start your career exploration in high school and create a clear career plan before enrolling in college. By doing so, you will take the required courses for your major and prepare for your career early on, saving yourself time and money. If this sounds like something you're interested in, you may want to explore career readiness education.
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