While some ASU students graduate from the same program they applied for, others realize, partway through, their declared major isn't for them.
Those students who decide to change their major said they face difficulties withstanding pressure from others and themselves.
Cooper Schmidt, a senior studying communication, said she changed her major twice before feeling confident in her current field of study.
"Deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life at the age of 17 (or) 18 is such a scary thing, and it's completely okay to not 100% know what you want to do or where you want to go with your career and major," Schmidt said.
The University College has a guide that answers common questions students can use when trying to change their major, and requests can be made through an online form.
Lindsay Medina, a freshman studying community health who switched from business, said the first step she took in the change was getting in contact with her new adviser.
For some students, the process of switching their major is easier than making the initial decision to change it.
Depending on a student's new major requirements, their old courses might not count toward their new major.
"I was wasting my time, and since I changed my major, my adviser told me that I have to either take summer classes or I'm going to be a semester behind," Medina said. "Technically, I'm not graduating with all my friends in the four years. I'd be graduating a whole semester later if I don't take those summer courses."
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Whether switching an area of study brings a late graduation or not, Schmidt said it still leads to pushback from those around her.
"The people that are usually your biggest supporters are telling you to do the opposite of what your heart wants to do," Schmidt said. "That's a very isolating and scary experience, but I think I personally just had to follow what I wanted to do."
There is also a common stereotype that people who change their majors are not taking their education seriously, or they're taking college for granted, Schmidt said.
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"Don't be scared to change your major because people say it's irresponsible or you're going to be behind, because this is what you're going to be doing for the rest of your life," Schmidt said.
The feeling of isolation was exacerbated by students' own fears that they had made the wrong choice, either before or after changing their major.
Medina said she "was very back and forth" about what she would study when applying to ASU. Although she decided on business at first, she said she had always subconsciously wanted to be in the medical field.
"When I chose business, and I went into it, it was really boring, and I didn't like it, so I knew I made the wrong decision," Medina said.
Jaden Barrero, a freshman studying molecular biosciences and biotechnology who switched from biology, said he made the change because his original field of study wouldn't offer the career opportunities he wanted.
Barrero said he decided to switch majors after realizing that panelists in a conference he attended studied in similar fields. Then, after looking into it, he found it was much more common to study biosciences and biotechnology than he thought.
"Okay, this isn't a niche or quieter major in the School of Life Sciences," Barrero said. "This is actually a very prevalent major."
Barrero said he will know he made the right choice if he is academically successful in his new field of study. However, Barrero said he still worries that his major may be too technical or STEM-focused.
"I'm biting the bullet and hoping I'm making the right choice by seeing if I'm going to be actually interested in it or not," Barrero said.
Edited by Carsten Oyer, Henry Smardo and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at galawre3@asu.edu.
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Grace Lawrence is a reporter for the community culture desk at The Arizona State Press. This is her 1st semester working with The State Press.
