Since kindergarten I have been asked one question every year: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Over the years my responses have changed from mermaid, architect, astronaut and now, genetic counselor (even that might change).
Today, I like to think about the other fields I wanted to pursue. What if I majored in architecture or became an interior designer? What if I got an engineering degree and became an astronaut? As each semester ends, all these paths flow in front of my eyes. The same is true for many other students.
The National Center for Education Statistics estimates 1 in 10 students change their major more than once within three years of enrollment. The major reason students change their major is because of newly developed interests. According to the Student Research Group, many students pick a major that interests them but end up finding that their major was not “what they envisioned or they don’t want to pursue that career path.”
As one of the top public universities in the United States, the University of Wisconsin–Madison offers 600 undergraduate and graduate majors and a total of 9,000 courses. It is completely normal to have a change of interest after being exposed to different courses. In fact, a study published by the Atlantic Marketing Journal found that while many students pick their first major based on initial interest, their second major often aligns with their personality and overall wellbeing. This shows that exploring different majors isn’t a sign of uncertainty, but it's a healthy part of learning and self discovery.
One of the main reasons for switching majors is the rigor of the class. According to the National Center of Education Statistics, 35% of students that declared STEM as their major ended up switching to a liberal arts major. This shows that changing your major and pursuing new passions is not uncommon. The fear of taking that first step is common, but changing your mind is often a sign of growth, not failure.
For many students, choosing a major feels like signing a lifelong contract. The fear of disappointing parents, wasting tuition money or “falling behind” can make even small decisions feel overwhelming. We scroll through LinkedIn or hear friends landing internships and start questioning our own path. The pressure to seem confident often hides the truth: most of us are quietly terrified of choosing wrong.
In reality, a major doesn’t lock you into one career path, and many have proven that. Cole Sprouse, who starred in The Suite Life of Zach and Cody and Riverdale, has a degree in archeology. Before becoming a model, Cindy Crawford studied chemical engineering. Ken Jeong, creator and star of the sitcom Dr. Ken went to medical school at Duke University and was a full time practicing physician before getting into acting. We idealize people who always knew what they wanted to do, but most of us, like these celebrities, are still trying to figure it out.
So if you're in a career identity crisis, being scared not just of failing, but of not becoming the right version of yourself, know that you're not the only one. The fear of waking up one day and hating the career you picked is a threat that hangs above all of us. But what if we looked at our major as the first step in discovering how we think and what we care about?
College is meant to be a place of discovery, not a fixed roadmap. Taking classes outside your comfort zone can reveal hidden interests and talents. Sometimes the “wrong” major can actually be the one that leads you to the right questions about yourself.
Maybe there isn’t a single right path, just the courage to keep walking forward, even when our destination changes. Our majors don’t define who we are. Our curiosity and willingness to grow do. So instead of fearing the wrong choice, perhaps we should celebrate the chance to explore.
Aneri Prashant Mehta is a freshman studying gentics. Do you agree that there is no such thing as choosing the wrong major? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
