7 Signs that you might want to Change your Major

The college major…

Some know it long before they enter college while some won’t discover it until their junior year.

Some will keep the major that was forced on them by their parents while some will only wish it were that easy.

A surprising amount of students will allow a simple Google search of “highest paying majors” to decide their destiny while some will thoroughly research and match the major to their personality and strengths.

Whatever you did or plan to do to find your major, according to statistics you may want to try a little harder.

Based on a study conducted by Jaison Abel and Richard Deitz of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, only 27% of college graduates work in fields related to their college major.

Among other things, this means that a whopping 73% of students most likely chose the wrong major.

The better your choice of major, the more likely you are to be in the 27 vs. the 73%

Here are signs that you may be making the wrong choice:

1. You didn’t choose with the end in mind. Often time’s students choose their major in hopes that it will lead to a career. The best way to choose your major is to first decide your career options then choose the major that aligns with those options. Starting with the end in mind will eliminate the guesswork once graduation comes. You’ll know exactly what you want to do and what you need to do to get there.

2. Money is your only motivation. We’ve all been there. The infamous Google search, “What are the highest paying college majors?” Bingo! This is how I found myself pursuing a Computer Science degree only to change majors my junior year. Ironically, my money motivation ended up costing me more money on classes than necessary.

We all want to be paid well after graduation but if money is the only reason, then you may want to reconsider.

3. Lack of interest. Once you reach the core classes of your major, you’ll begin work that’s designed to reflect the “real world”. If you find yourself disinterested in most of your core work, this can likely translate to a lack of interest in your career. The best way to judge your interest is by shadowing or finding a mentor in your desired career. Find out the good, bad and ugly to determine if the career path is right for you.

4. You stand out from your peers. Once you enter your core classes, you’ll notice that most of the students are the same. Sure, they may differ in some areas but for the most part they are cut from the same cloth. If you find that you are the exact opposite from everyone in the room, it may be a hint that you are going down the wrong path.

For instance, my wife’s major was once computer engineering. After walking into a class, it quickly dawned on her that she might want to change majors. My wife is very expressive and extroverted; the classroom was the exact opposite.

5. Not aligned with your strengths and personality type. This may be the most important sign. Your major and career is more than a means to an income. The work that you do should be work that gives maximum expression of who you are. If you find that your major is the exact opposite of who you are, then you may want to consider other options. The book Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath can give you a great peek into your core strengths.

For further direction on finding your true work, sign up to receive the Dream Achiever program on the site. We’re including the “Why on Earth am I Here” resource as a bonus.

6. Lack of Vision. What work do you see yourself doing? Sometimes the vision that we have in our life doesn’t match up with what we’re actually pursuing. We may see ourselves being a lawyer or fashion designer but choose otherwise because of pressure from parents and society. Your vision can be a big hint into where you truly want to go. The key is to follow your heart.

7. Lack of counsel. Did you ask for others advice when choosing your major? If not, this can be a sign that you are in the wrong major. Your chances of success greatly increase when you have someone there to guide and direct you.

The fact that you’re reading this article is a sign of your attitude. Take it a step further by asking a counselor, teacher, or even your parents what they see as a good career path for you. This should be someone whose character and judgment you trust. Sometimes others see in us what we fail to see in ourselves. Asking for advice will only help you clarify what you desire. This is not to be confused with them making the decision for you.

Are you due for a major change? The best advice: follow your heart and intuition. Take fast action. Get counsel, get the “Why on Earth am I here” resource, ask your parents, find your strengths, get a mentor as quickly as possible. The faster you make your decision, the less money you’ll waste and the faster you’ll place yourself on a fast track towards your dreams.