<p>So, a not-so-unique situation brewing... I am currently a math major at a community college and I'm totally dominating the math department and am personally friends with a lot of the faculty and staff, including the department chair. I've got lots of them promising letters of recommendation to help with the financial aid side of things when I transfer.</p>
<p>The problem is I am not quite so sure that when I transfer that I'm going to stick with the math major thing, seeing as how I love math, but I'm not IN love with math, so-to-speak. I am having horrible anxiety about this and how they might lose tons of respect for me when they all find out that I'm seriously entertaining the idea of dropping the math major. As well, they might rescind their offer for letters of recommendation upon finding out. Therefore, it makes me worry, did I work so hard these last few years to only have almost nothing to show for it?</p>
<p>I am torn between 2 possible majors: statistics and engineering. :| One's somewhat related to math and the other is like the long-lost cousin of math. lol. I can't decide which I want to do. I think that double-majoring would be horribly expensive too, but I'd entertain that idea. (But that's not the purpose of this topic)</p>
<p>Advice, tips, calming tidbits, devastating suggestions? Anyone?</p>
<p>Statistics and engineering both go hand-in-hand with math. In fact, to take upper-level statistics and engineering courses requires at LEAST multivariable calculus or higher. A lot of math majors actually minor in statistics just because they can be so intertwined. Trust me, you will NOT lose any respect. In fact, you might gain some respect because both are majors that apply math to real-life situations (not to mention both have good job prospects). Engineering is considered one of the most difficult college majors out there, so your professors will also know that if you take this route, you’re challenging yourself.</p>
<p>And even if you will major in something completely unrelated to math, your professors, if they were truly professional and decent, would NOT look down upon you at all, let alone rescind writing your letters. They should understand your shift in interests and goals because college, by its nature, invites curiosity and searching. I’m planning on switching majors if I transfer too. I was afraid that I would be insulting them indirectly by choosing to leave my college and pursue a different path, so I gave lengthy explanations about my reasons. They both said I didn’t need to explain myself and that they were very sympathetic and supported my decision all the way.</p>
<p>You’re fine. Unless one of your professors is known to be a giant a-hole, they WILL and SHOULD understand and support you, no matter what major you ultimately choose.</p>
<p>As a faculty member, I would agree that it is not a problem. After all, you are finishing your time at the Community College and your professors are more interested in you going on and doing well at university than what major you choose. When you do well, it speaks well of their own school and department.</p>