What to Do if You Think You Picked the Wrong Degree
Every year, thousands of college students change their degree path. The change may be as simple as switching from childhood psychology to adolescent psychology or as extreme as switching from English to nuclear physics. Regardless, students realize that they picked the wrong degree and switch to a new program.
Realizing that they need to change majors can devastate students for several reasons, especially if they’re already years into their studies. First, college is not cheap. Needing to change programs can result in wasted credits, additional semesters, and thousands more dollars spent on tuition. Second, it can be difficult to let go of a long-time dream. Imagine spending your entire life so far thinking you’d be a veterinarian, only to realize the field isn’t right for you.
And finally, it may leave you without a clear path forward. Some students work towards graduation with a guaranteed job or promotion. A changed major may mean that opportunity goes away. You find yourself back on the job hunt, not quite sure where you’ll end up. Truly, it can feel like the end of the world.
These factors can dissuade people from pursuing a different track. However, if you truly dislike the path you’re currently on, it’s likely better to change it now than realize you need another degree ten years down the line. Most people do not “love” what they do, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Work is work, not life. But you should not hate what you do either. If you dread getting out of bed every day, your overall quality of life will drop. Thus, it’s better to change majors now than stick with the wrong degree out of fear.
Signs You Picked the Wrong Degree
There are often warning signs that you’re in the wrong degree program. You may not recognize them at first. Maybe there’s a subtle shift in how much you’re enjoying college. Or perhaps your mid-semester slump never goes away. Alternatively, your electives may become more interesting than your other courses.
Also, it’s important to recognize the difference between being burnt out and needing to change majors. Four years is a long time to spend studying. You may reach a point where college in general feels like it’s too much. This feeling isn’t necessarily from your major, but just from constant studying, late nights, and essays. To help yourself discern between the two, you may consider taking summer semester off, spending a semester on electives, or, if you’re able, asking your college about a brief leave of absence.
Below, we’ll go over some of those signs that you’re working towards the wrong degree.
You’re Not Enjoying Yourself
One key sign that your major isn’t right for you is that you no longer enjoy what you’re studying. Obviously, college is a lot of hard work. Not every class, lecture, and semester will be a party. But you should be interested in and intrigued by at least some of the content you study.
Consider the path of an English major. They’ll likely study grammar, composition, and other specialized topics. For example, they may take courses focusing on early 1900s literature or creative writing. This student might really love the special topics but hate studying grammar. They’re challenged by the content they love but feel that it’s worthwhile. They’re still in the right program despite not enjoying a handful of their classes.
On the other hand, a history major who slowly realizes that they don’t care about what they’re learning or see a future in the field is probably in the wrong degree program. Truly, if you dread every class you enroll in, something is wrong. Especially if you still enjoy your electives or other courses unrelated to your major.
It’s Not What You Expected
Another common issue new students come across is that reality didn’t match their expectations. What seemed like an ideal field of study turned out to be the wrong degree for several reasons. For the last few decades, tv shows and movies have created fictionalized versions of careers that are unlike their real-life counterparts. Truly, the medicine and law enforcement industries have been most affected.
But, truly, no career is safe from misrepresentation. Anyone can be led astray by marketing, social media, or even a family member.
Unfortunately, most people don’t see past the idolized version of their career without experience. They get to college, shadow a professional, or get an internship before they realize the job isn’t all it was said to be.
If you realize that your perception of a career was inaccurate – and you’re not happy with your discoveries – you should change majors before you get trapped in the field. We recommend that all students speak to a career counselor early into their academic journey. Not only will they help you get a clear picture of a job field, but they can help find you another path that better fits your needs.
Every Class Suddenly Seems Too Difficult
Another telltale sign that something is wrong with your degree is if everything seems too difficult. Notably, many programs come with a learning curve. No one is an expert engineer or rocket scientist in their freshman year. Some majors purposefully put their more difficult courses early in the schedule to ensure students don’t spend thousands on tuition just to crash in their last semester. Fields like medicine and law are notorious for these classes.
But those are not the classes we’re talking about here. Regardless of what you’re studying, if you find every single class too tedious to get through, you might be enrolled in the wrong degree program.
This issue does not arise because a student is bad at college or is incapable of learning. Even good students can find themselves with bad grades. Self-care, strong effort, and extra assistance can help students get passed such roadblocks. Rather, students who feel like they can never get anything right may be struggling for a variety of reasons. For example, mental health plays a large role in student success. Students tend to struggle if they feel demotivated or stressed out.
Truly, if you’re mentally checked out of your program, you’re not going to feel motivated to put in your best work. Similarly, if you know you’re wasting your time in classes you won’t use, you’ll probably feel stressed. Students who feel overwhelmed by a program and can’t escape the slump may want to take a semester off to recover and reassess their goals.
You Can’t Picture Yourself in the Field Anymore
You don’t need to have your entire future planned out in college, including what job you want to have. But it’s good to have some thoughts about where you want to work in the field. For example, do you plan to work in the field or behind a desk? Do you want to talk to customers or clients or work independently? Using these questions and others like them, you should be able to identify a few roles in your industry that fit your needs.
If, along the way, you realize you can’t think of a single role you want, you might be in the wrong degree program. What sounded good when you were seventeen no longer matches your personality. This change is entirely normal, as most begin to get to know themselves and discover new interests in college. Though some students might not have had a career in mind in the first place.
Notably, many students are pressured by their parents, family, and peers to enroll in college each year. They pick a common major instead of one that truly interests them and have no idea what they’re going to do with it. This plan is a bad one for many reasons. First and foremost, you may end up wasting money and financial aid that you cannot get back. And when you do figure out your path in life, your degree might not take you there. So if you can’t picture yourself in the field you’re studying, take a minute to consider what does interest you.
You Found Something Else
Finally, the reason your degree is the wrong degree may be as simple as you found something better. You may still love your original field of study, but you might excel in a new one or may have found your passion elsewhere. This reason is just as valid as the rest.
If your heart wants to pursue another field – maybe you’re studying education and want to switch to journalism – your first step should be research. As the saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side. Maybe you’re currently or about to take a difficult class, and you see someone partying their semester away while earning straight A’s. It can be enticing. You want to be that person, but that doesn’t mean their degree is for you.
Make sure you can picture yourself in the field, there are specific jobs that appeal to you, and you can live off the salary. Additionally, research what level of education you need for your ideal job. If you only want a bachelor’s degree, but your ideal career in the new field requires a Ph.D., you must decide what matters more. At the end of it all, if the new major still sounds better than your current one, then you can make your decision. You might even keep your old degree as your minor so those other credits don’t go to waste.
Final Thoughts
Lakewood University is an accredited online school that offers a variety of degree and certificate programs. We have rolling enrollments and asynchronous courses. In other words, you don’t have to worry about missing a lecture or running late to class. If you plan on enrolling in college while working, Lakewood University offers the flexibility you need to earn your degree.
Don’t hesitate – reach out to our admissions department today to learn more!
