For many college students, picking a major takes time and revising

The Uncharted Territory: Why College Majors Are More Fluid Than You Think

For many aspiring college students, the decision of what to major in feels like an irreversible fork in the road, a monumental choice that will dictate their entire future. The pressure to select the "right" path, whether driven by lucrative career prospects, personal passions, or familial expectations, can be immense. Yet, the reality for a significant portion of students is far more dynamic, with a substantial number of them navigating a winding journey of exploration and change before settling on their academic focus.

The Shifting Sands of Academic Pursuit

Contrary to the notion of a fixed academic destiny, data reveals a widespread tendency for students to alter their initial major choices. A striking 55% of students who ultimately earned humanities degrees began their college careers with a different field in mind, according to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This fluidity is further underscored by research from the consulting firm EAB, indicating that approximately 85% of college students change their major at least once during their undergraduate studies.

Interestingly, delaying the declaration of a major can actually correlate with a slightly higher graduation rate, as suggested by EAB studies. This finding challenges the conventional wisdom that early specialization is always beneficial, hinting that a period of exploration might better equip students for long-term academic success.

Beyond the Label: What Employers Truly Value

A common misconception is that a student's undergraduate major is the primary determinant of their career trajectory. However, academic advisers on California college campuses often emphasize that the connection between a major and a specific career path is far less rigid than students might believe. The focus, they argue, should be on finding a major that genuinely resonates with the individual.

This perspective is echoed by employers themselves. A survey by the American Association of Colleges and Universities found that a vast majority of employers—93% of 318 respondents—place a higher value on critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills than on a candidate's specific undergraduate major. This data suggests that the development of transferable skills, fostered through a variety of academic experiences, is paramount in the eyes of the professional world.

Navigating the Maze: Stories of Exploration and Discovery

Many students, uncertain about their ultimate direction, begin their college journey without a declared major or switch fields after their initial choice. This process can be fraught with challenges, stemming from an abundance of interests, the pressure to balance personal aspirations with familial expectations, or a feeling of not quite fitting the mold of a desired pursuit.

Kaitlynn Brandon: From Comics to Creative Ambitions

Kaitlynn Brandon’s path to higher education was anything but linear. Growing up, the idea of college wasn't even on her radar, influenced by her family's expectations to forgo higher education. However, after moving out at age 24, she found herself at San Joaquin Delta College, where a tuition waiver opened the door to exploration.

“I was not sure what to expect at all going into it. I didn’t know how many options there were going to be,” Brandon recalled. “I just felt for me a need to explore higher education, and I saw an opportunity, so I took it.” Initially, she felt restricted by the academic categorization of her diverse interests, which included graphic design, writing, and drawing. She struggled to see how these seemingly disparate passions could coalesce into a single career path.

“I found things being split up into different categories for academia and different majors almost restrictive,” Brandon explained. “I can’t just explore things, I have to choose a path and stick to it.” A conversation with a Career and Technical Education counselor helped her reframe her broad interests not as a sign of confusion, but as a valuable asset. This pivotal interaction, which she described as surprisingly psychological, helped her break free from a mindset that limited her potential.

Now an undeclared student at UC Berkeley, Brandon hopes to major in English with a minor in creative writing, while also considering anthropology. Her ultimate dream is to become an award-winning comic book author, but she wisely recognizes the need for a more financially stable backup plan.

Rubaita Iqbal: Breaking Free from Predefined Paths

For Rubaita Iqbal, the expectation to pursue a career in medicine was deeply ingrained from her time in a medical magnet high school. However, a senior-year experience working in a nursing home began to sow seeds of doubt about her long-held goal of becoming a physician's assistant.

While her peers expressed passion for helping patients, Iqbal found herself counting down the hours until her shift ended. “My friend was telling me how he felt very passionate to help these people, and I was like, ‘OK, when is it gonna be 5 o’clock when I can clock out?’ I felt like I wasn’t supposed to feel like that,” she shared.

She entered UC Riverside undeclared, granting herself time to explore. However, the social pressure of seeing other students with declared majors led her to declare neuroscience, a choice influenced by her enjoyment of high school psychology classes. “I was really disappointed, mainly because I felt like my life wasn’t going anywhere,” Iqbal admitted.

Despite her adviser’s counsel to stick with neuroscience, Iqbal dreaded her introductory science courses. She now wishes she had remained undeclared longer, feeling it would have better supported her exploration. “I kind of regret going to neuroscience because, like I just put myself in a path because, again, I felt pressured,” she said, referencing her parents’ consistent expectation of a medical profession.

It wasn't until winter quarter, when she took classes in political science and journalism, that she discovered her passion for the humanities. After much deliberation, she ultimately chose public policy as her major, a decision that marked the first time she felt she was pursuing something for herself. This newfound clarity has set her on a path toward law school.

The Adviser's Perspective: Embracing the Journey

Kyle Behen, director of the university advisement center at UCLA, argues that expecting high school seniors to define their entire future is an unreasonable demand. "I mean, let’s face it, we’re asking a ridiculous thing. You’re a 17-year-old, applying to college, and we’re asking you, ‘Please determine your entire future, today,’" he stated.

Behen notes that for many students, particularly first-generation students, pursuing fields like the arts can feel like a "selfish" choice, often creating a tension between parental desires and personal calling. He emphasizes the importance of students becoming advocates for themselves and coaches them on navigating these familial disagreements.

Behen himself experienced a similar journey of academic exploration. Initially drawn to sciences, inspired by his engineer father, he found himself captivated by humanities courses. A classics course ultimately led him to declare his major in classics during his junior year. "I think I went through a version of what a lot of my students go through. It’s like, yes, engineering is the practical thing, science is the practical thing. But it wasn’t the thing that was going to get me out of bed in the morning," he reflected.

Glenda Orozco: The Pull of Diverse Disciplines

Glenda Orozco’s early aspirations were rooted in her mother’s profession as a doctor in Mexico. Her childhood curiosity about the world, met with detailed explanations, instilled in her a desire for knowledge. In middle school, a love for reading, particularly "Chronicle of a Death Foretold," sparked an interest in psychology as she began to analyze character motivations and behaviors.

“I started to notice those patterns, and I wanted to know more that was beyond the behavior,” Orozco explained. “Then I went deeper, and I was like, well, what kind of molecules are involved in traumas or in this behavior?”

Upon acceptance to UC Irvine as a cognitive science major, she discovered the course offerings didn't align with her expectations. She switched to undeclared during freshman orientation, despite warnings from other students she had met. “I thought it was really risky,” Orozco said. “I was doing something everyone told me not to do.”

While her adviser offered valuable guidance, Orozco’s first college chemistry class raised doubts about her suitability for neurobiology. The demanding independent study required for the course, coupled with social isolation and financial aid challenges, took a significant toll. She experienced hair loss, fatigue, and increased irritability.

In her frustration, Orozco rediscovered her passion for Spanish literature, considering it as a potential major. “I thought, maybe if I major in Spanish — I’m already good at it, it’s my hobby, I’m passionate about it — maybe that’s the path I have to follow,” she mused.

However, the allure of neurobiology remained. She found herself once again undeclared, torn between two equally compelling fields. Ultimately, she chose biology, inspired by her mother and viewing neuroscience as a more altruistic endeavor. “I felt that majoring in Spanish was something I was doing for me and only for me, and I felt that doing something that had to do with neurobiology was something that was not only for me, but for humanity,” Orozco concluded.

The experiences of students like Kaitlynn Brandon, Rubaita Iqbal, and Glenda Orozco, alongside the insights of academic advisers, highlight a crucial truth: the college major is often not a destination, but a significant part of a larger, evolving journey of self-discovery and skill development. This understanding can empower students to embrace exploration, rather than fear the perceived finality of their initial academic choices.