Changing Majors/Finding the right Major

College Majors Engineering Majors
1 
 As a rising senior, I am overwhelmed by the college process so far. I have been looking at colleges, majors, programs, etc. for a good 6 months now but Im really getting into it now. Ive been using this website for questions, niche and usnews for rankings, and any other good sources for other questions or searches Ive had. Right now, one of the bigger questions I have is, how would someone figure out what they really want to do, whether that's in college or before, without wasting too much time in a major or field that they dont enjoy as much. I am looking into Engineering right now because I am a math/science person for the most part and find it enjoyable, but I also find Biology and Forensic majors as enjoyable as Engineering. 

 With these two different major/degree fields, I am kind of scared as to what I want to go into. I have a couple months until I have to apply to colleges and finding the right colleges for me is tough when I dont know for sure what excatly I want to do in college. I would say Im an above average student, Weighted GPA around 3.7-8 with ACT score of 32, 33 in reading, science and math, and SAT scores 750 math and 650 reading, although I have just taken my second SAT and expect a better reading score. With these scores I am looking at generally good colleges, Virginia Tech school of engineering, Maryland(In-state), etc. But, I dont want to go to a college for a major, then find out I want to change majors.

Any ideas?
All ideas will help I am just looking for someone who has maybe dealt with this before or has experienced and overcame it.

Thank You!

2

There is no way anyone can answer this question for you. There is a reason that so many students change their majors, sometimes more than once. They don’t know what they don’t know until they’ve been immersed for a while. No amount of reading or advice can eliminate at least some uncertainty.

With that said, it’s far easier to switch out of engineering than it is to switch in. The curriculum is very regimented. You will be starting at ground zero the moment you start. Many of the classes you take for engineering on the other hand will be transferrable to other majors.

I would start in engineering and make sure you choose a school where there is not a high barrier to switching. Some schools make it very difficult, because they don’t have space to move students into.

You may also want to get a copy of Cal Newport’s “So Good They Can’t Ignore You.” It will allay some of your fears that you need to know your whole future plan now. You don’t.

Good luck!