One bad grade in major - switch?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>This past semester I received a bad grade in my intended major (although I'm trying to dispute it right now due to some discrepancies- doubt it will change). In what should've been an easy class got complicated due to personal issues and I walked away with a B- in what I believe to be an A- class in concordance with previous grade reports. Also, I'm a History major, which is why I consider this a bad grade since it's much less difficult than a B- in lets say Orgo. I'm intent on law school, and I'm afraid with keeping my major, this B- will kill my chances.</p>

<p>Luckily, for my electives I found an interest in anthropology, and I'm thinking of switching but I'm not sure. I will have amassed 2 classes by the end of next semester currently (this schedule assumes i'm still history though, so I'd add another anthro class to catch up). I only need 8 classes for the major so if I take 2 anthro courses one semester and 1 for the rest in my junior and senior years I should be okay.</p>

<p>I understand this may sound ridiculous because its one grade, but T14 law is extremely competitive and although I will probably raise my whole GPA since personal issues have been worked out, I'm afraid it will kill my chances especially next to an A- median grade on the transcript. My major GPA will, however, likely be low still due to that grade. If I switch, I believe my major GPA will end up higher (I find anthropology more interesting/easier than history anyway). So, do you think I should switch or not? Ideally I was planning on double majoring but definitely not with that grade, I would just stick to anthropology. Thank you!</p>

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<p>if you find anthro more interesting, that’s one big reason to lean toward that for your major. it doesn’t sound like you’re that attached to history either, and you have a longterm goal that doesn’t <em>require</em> a history major.</p>

<p>also, it’s totally not too late to pick up another major that you haven’t even started yet. if you’re not going to take history, you could try out one or two other courses in another that you might like (government or sociology maybe?) I know you said you should catch up with anthro, but I think you should only do that if you absolutely must in order to graduate on time. it is not uncommon to have disconcerting amounts of flexibility in classes by senior year, and it might make you wish you didn’t rush through everything early on.</p>