Change of Major | Office of the Registrar (2023)

FAQs

How do I change my major after submitting an application? ›

They do state that, "If you need to change information on a submitted application, you must contact the college's admissions office directly to ask how they would like you to proceed." This is true for most applications.

Switching majors often means more classes and more credits to graduate, so consider how the change will affect your graduation date.

An estimated 20-50% of students enter college undeclared. What's more, around 75% of students change their major at least once in their college career.

It is always acceptable to change your major. You don't have to feel stuck with your first choice if your career goals evolve. However, when it comes to changing college majors, it is wise to exercise caution.

The simple answer is: no. In the vast majority of cases, your intended major does not affect your chances of being accepted to a certain school. A big part of this is because colleges know many students will change their major sometime during college.

When Can You Change Majors? Most US universities and colleges give you the opportunity to change your major during your first year of study.

Generally, the end of junior year is “too late” to change your major. However, there are several factors you should consider when deciding if you are going to switch majors. These influences can help you decide if it is “too late” in your specific situation.

Con Of Declaring A Major

While some colleges may offer you admission into a general studies program if you do not get accepted into your first-choice program, other colleges may reject your application completely. If you wish to declare your major, research each college thoroughly before you submit your application.

If you've already been admitted and you want to change your major or declare, you can: Contact the department whose program you wish to attend. Change or choose a major at the New Student Session. Meet with a counselor to discuss your major selection.

On average, college students change their major at least three times over the course of their college career. Is Switching Majors a Bad Thing?

Is it harder to get accepted as undecided? ›

For most colleges, choosing “undecided” as your major will not affect your chances of getting accepted. Admissions officers understand that some students won't be ready to commit to a degree path right out of high school.

As many as 50 to 75% of all undergraduate students change majors at least one time before earning a degree.

Financial aid impact: Because your financial aid package is tied to your primary program, all courses for the semester must apply to your program. If you change majors in the middle of a session and the courses you're taking don't apply to both programs, your financial aid is at risk to be returned.

You may lose credits you've already earned if they are not applicable to the major you were changing into, and you may need to take additional required classes to fulfill your new major requirements. The best time to change your major is in or immediately after your first year.

Which is the #1 hardest major? Chemistry is listed #1 as the hardest major for students to get into. The average GPA required by students applying for a chemistry major is 2.9. A chemistry degree requires a lot of effort, but once you have one, you have a lot of job alternatives.

Changing majors don't affect a GPA. A final grade in a class, or classes, do. This is why people, who have the money to spend, take one, or more, easy elective classes to boost a GPA.

The most popular college majors in the United States are business, health, and social sciences, according to data from the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES). Of the 2 million bachelor's degrees conferred in the US during the 2019-2020 school year, these three majors made up almost 40 percent.

The highest-paying majors

Four of the top earning degrees – operation research, naval architecture and marine engineering, computer science and marine transportation – had average salaries over $100,000, followed by computer engineering ($99,063).

Can you switch majors in the middle of a semester? ›

Although switching majors in the middle of the semester is possible, do not drop (or stop attending) classes just because they don't apply to your new desired major. It is still important to do the coursework and earn good grades to keep a strong GPA.

There is generally no limit to how many times a student may change their major, but Brooks says San Diego State recommends students "be settled into" their major by their junior year. Experts also discourage changing majors during junior or senior years, though it's technically possible for students to do so.

It is best to speak with your counselor before you make any official decisions, but in general, most counselors will recommend that students change their major after their first year.

For example, students may change their major because they perceive some degree programs as more interesting or as having more career options. Acquiring a new academic interest or career goal may be the impetus for students to change majors because the new field of study provides a more direct career path for them.

It's been estimated that anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of students start college as “undecided” in terms of their major. What's more, upward of 75 percent of college students change their major before they graduate.

Still, 44% of all job seekers with college degrees regret their field of study.

Countless students have changed their majors successfully. But before you change your major, explore another major through its lower-division courses. Changing your major is a lengthy process. Sometimes, you need to meet specific lower-division requirements before you can even declare that major.

What does declaring a major on your college application actually mean? Typically, declaring a major on your application is basically saying to admission folks, “Hey, I'm really interested in this subject.” It shows you're ready to commity to a career path. (Don't worry! If you change your major later, that's okay.)

Your choice there is not binding, and you could change to anything you want within that college. But transferring to another internal college like Business or Engineering would not be as simple. Most of the universities allowed you to take 2 or more majors.

How many college students are unhappy with their major? ›

Nearly 2 in 5 American college graduates have major regrets. That is, they regret their major. The regretters include a healthy population of liberal arts majors, who may be responding to pervasive social cues.

Consider the following “factoids”: 50–70 percent of college students change their major at least once during their time in college. Most majors lead to a wide variety of opportunities rather than to one specific career, although some majors do indeed lead to specific careers.

"In addition to dealing with financial insecurity, only 46% of college grads surveyed say they currently work in their field of study. 29% report working in a different field, while 16% of those under age 54 (and therefore not likely retired) say they are currently unemployed.

Liberal Arts Studies. It is very common for an undecided individual to pursue a liberal arts degree. With this major, you will study a multitude of topics, including math, philosophy, literature, and history. Since your courses will involve general topics, it provides education that makes you well-rounded.

Pros of Being an Undeclared Major

Not everyone knows exactly what their career goal is or what to study freshman year. Many students take a few general education classes to discover what they like and dislike about various fields. This can give them a better sense of what subjects they wish to pursue.

Majors like computer science and agriculture that require technical skills and an extensive math background usually have the highest dropout rates. In addition, many students drop out due to the coursework and rigorous requirements of the major.

Changing Your Major Can Add $18,000 in Tuition

The longer you wait, the more it'll cost. For example, if you change your major in your sophomore year, you can probably maintain the same timeline and tuition costs.

Graduation Rate

57% of students delay their four-year courses while 33% of them drop out (ThinkImpact, 2021). 36% of students from private universities graduate on time while 17% do in public or non-flagship colleges, (Admissionsly, 2021).

A different major could be a better fit for your career goals or help you get into graduate school. Changing majors might even be the difference between earning a degree and dropping out. Other students find that changing majors means pushing back their graduation date and taking out more loans.

Do you lose credits if you change major? ›

Through the process of changing majors you may lose credits. It could extend your time spent in college due to the loss of credits or taking additional courses needed for your new major. You could end up spending more money than you anticipated on college education.

Financial Aid recipients will be terminated upon reaching 150 percent of the number of credits needed to complete their degree, diploma or certificate program. This regulation applies to all students, including those that have not previously received financial aid.

There is no general truth about which semester or year is too late for switching majors. Each case is different. Many people believe that you should not change majors after starting your junior year. Typically, colleges give you a list of general education credits you need to complete to earn your degree.

Federal Student Aid

If you receive federal college loans, failing a class may disqualify you from them based on your school's SAP requirements. Federal student aid typically requires you to maintain a 2.0 GPA to qualify — so failing a class may put you at risk of losing it.

There isn't a limit on how many times you can change your major, and credits do transfer over and you can still get your degree.

Major Change means introduction of a new process, process equipment, or regulated substance, an alteration of process chemistry that results in any change to safe operating limits, or other alteration that introduces a new hazard.

The applications for many colleges and universities allow students to specify an intended major, though this is not required – and not all students ultimately choose to do so.

To change their major, applicants should log in to their Applicant Portal, navigate to the My UC Application tab and select “Applicant Information”. Submit the major change form by clicking the link labeled “Change my Major” located below the “Major Information” info box.

There is generally no limit to how many times a student may change their major, but Brooks says San Diego State recommends students "be settled into" their major by their junior year. Experts also discourage changing majors during junior or senior years, though it's technically possible for students to do so.

Is it too late to change my major in college? ›

It is never too late to change your major, but before you make the switch consider the costs, the classes that you need to take, and what you can do with your degree after school. Try to look for a new major where you can use the classes that you have already taken.

A student may be denied a request to declare an academic program if the student's academic record already demonstrates a lack of success based on that program's approved Academic Progress Rules or their GPA.

For most colleges, choosing “undecided” as your major will not affect your chances of getting accepted. Admissions officers understand that some students won't be ready to commit to a degree path right out of high school.

If you have made a mistake on your UC application in any of these parts, you want to contact the support center. This is their email: docs@applyUCsupport.net. When you send them an email, write what exactly you wrote in your application and tell them the mistake. Then, inform them of what the correction should be.

Each year UCLA receives more than 100,000 applications. Major selection does not play a role in the admission process for freshman applicants applying to the College and Luskin School of Public Affairs.

UC has a specific way to calculate the grade point average (GPA) it requires for admission. California applicants must earn at least a 3.0 GPA and nonresidents must earn a minimum 3.4 GPA in all A-G or college-preparatory courses to meet this requirement.

You must have a 3.0 GPA (3.4 for non-residents) or higher and no grades lower than a C in required high school courses. You can also substitute SAT subject tests for courses. If you don't meet the requirements, it is possible to gain admission with a high enough score on the ACT/SAT plus on two SAT subject tests.