2008 Woodie Awards
Changing majors becoming more common for underclassmen
By Anna Cypher
Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: Focus
Crytzer said his high school teachers were influential in his choice, and that "people were always telling me I should be a teacher."
That influence stuck with him for the best-and is assured he is happy in the major he's in now.
Another way for students to find out where their strengths and passions lie is to get involved with extracurricular activities on campus.
AmeriCorps, an organization providing opportunities for students to engage in social work, made all the difference for Kremer.
Switching to a major in social work at the end of the fall semester of her sophomore year, she said that she is satisfied with the program she has now, and AmeriCorps played a role in that decision.
So get informed, keep an open mind, listen to others and connect into extracurricular activities. Sounds easy enough, right?
But what if a student is worried they're too late?
Crytzer said there was a lot of pressure from his family for him to graduate on time and that changing majors can sometimes mean delaying graduation, which can add up on Stafford loans costs.
But according to the MSNBC Web site, the College Board said "roughly 40 percent of those who start at a four-year college degree program still have not earned one after year six."
For many, this is in part because of the changing of majors, and thus changing credit requirements.
But the process of changing majors at SRU for these three students didn't have many financial or scheduling repercussions.
Though there is some paperwork involved in the process, Kowalczyk, Kremer and Crytzer said that because they changed majors at the right time, they weren't set back from their graduation timeline, though Kremer and Crytzer do have some leftover credits that no longer work toward their major.
Although the time in college may no longer be the typical four years it once was, the purpose of college major programs is to serve as a tool to help students achieve their goals once they get out into the working world.
"I always wanted to own my own business," Kowalczyk said.
He said he chose to switch to finance because it was an easy move from accounting, and that the two have some courses in common.
"I would probably do it (change majors) again (if necessary), because this is what you're going to do with the rest of your life," Kowalczyk said.
Crytzer agreed.
"Keep an open mind and don't feel like you're set (in a certain program), but be smart about it," Crytzer said.
Kremer suggests to not hesitate to investigate other options, even if the end result is still a little foggy.
Kremer said she struggled with deciding, and said it was sort of scary because of the expectations of family and friends for her to have her mind made up, but tells those having the same struggle not to be afraid to make a change.
"Go with what's best for you and (do) not be afraid of what others think," Kremer said.
That influence stuck with him for the best-and is assured he is happy in the major he's in now.
Another way for students to find out where their strengths and passions lie is to get involved with extracurricular activities on campus.
AmeriCorps, an organization providing opportunities for students to engage in social work, made all the difference for Kremer.
Switching to a major in social work at the end of the fall semester of her sophomore year, she said that she is satisfied with the program she has now, and AmeriCorps played a role in that decision.
So get informed, keep an open mind, listen to others and connect into extracurricular activities. Sounds easy enough, right?
But what if a student is worried they're too late?
Crytzer said there was a lot of pressure from his family for him to graduate on time and that changing majors can sometimes mean delaying graduation, which can add up on Stafford loans costs.
But according to the MSNBC Web site, the College Board said "roughly 40 percent of those who start at a four-year college degree program still have not earned one after year six."
For many, this is in part because of the changing of majors, and thus changing credit requirements.
But the process of changing majors at SRU for these three students didn't have many financial or scheduling repercussions.
Though there is some paperwork involved in the process, Kowalczyk, Kremer and Crytzer said that because they changed majors at the right time, they weren't set back from their graduation timeline, though Kremer and Crytzer do have some leftover credits that no longer work toward their major.
Although the time in college may no longer be the typical four years it once was, the purpose of college major programs is to serve as a tool to help students achieve their goals once they get out into the working world.
"I always wanted to own my own business," Kowalczyk said.
He said he chose to switch to finance because it was an easy move from accounting, and that the two have some courses in common.
"I would probably do it (change majors) again (if necessary), because this is what you're going to do with the rest of your life," Kowalczyk said.
Crytzer agreed.
"Keep an open mind and don't feel like you're set (in a certain program), but be smart about it," Crytzer said.
Kremer suggests to not hesitate to investigate other options, even if the end result is still a little foggy.
Kremer said she struggled with deciding, and said it was sort of scary because of the expectations of family and friends for her to have her mind made up, but tells those having the same struggle not to be afraid to make a change.
"Go with what's best for you and (do) not be afraid of what others think," Kremer said.
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