<p>I'm not an engineering major but I am considering Civil Engineering as a major (I'm leaning towards Urban Planning with Architecture as a 2nd Choice). I was curious about the possibility of trying engineering as a major then switching to another major.</p>
<p>If someone begins as a History major then switches to Sociology as a major, people usually assume the person found his niche in Sociology and it's no big deal. If someone begins as a Mechanical Engineering major then switches to Sociology as a major, do people usually first assume that the person couldn't hack it in engineering and switched to a 'softer' major out of necessity? I sense that there is a special stigma associated with switching out of engineering to a less technical major. I think that if I were to try Civil Engineering as a major, then decided something else were for me that I would be wise to keep a copy of my transcript handy just to show everyone that I switched OUT because I didn't like it instead of switching out because I couldn't take it. </p>
<p>Do you think there is a special stigma associated with leaving engineering?</p>
<p>When you say “people” and “everyone”, are you referring to your parents, members of your family, classmates, or employers? </p>
<p>Parents should be understanding.</p>
<p>If you’re concerned about other family members, ask your parents not to discuss the major with other members of your family or have them say “he is going to try engineering but considering other majors as well”. That way if you switch the family members aren’t surprised. (They won’t care what you are studying, but asking what your major is is easy conversation.)</p>
<p>Future employers, grad school admission committees, other students don’t need to know that you switched. You can tell them if you want or you can keep it to yourself if you want. </p>
<p>Regardless, lots of people attempt engineering and switch to other majors after 6 months or a year. That’s ok.</p>
<p>That’s different. You went from technical to more technical. The OP is talking about technical to a soft science.</p>
<p>I agree with BT on this one. The only people who will attempt to make any sort of assumption are other students and family members. And who cares what they think? Employers generally won’t care, and if they do, they’ll see your grades and know that it was a choice. At the end of the day, all that really matters is what employers think (and what you think).</p>
<p>If it really bugs you, you can also consider some sort of technical minor to go with your major. With a major like sociology or history, statistics might be a good complementary minor.</p>
<p>“That’s different. You went from technical to more technical. The OP is talking about technical to a soft science”</p>
<p>I can buy that. It’s just that, after doing these years in engineering, I have come to realize that I was worried about much more than I SHOULD HAVE been worrying about in college.</p>
<p>I think there will be a stigma from the perspective of your engineering classmates that you “just couldn’t cut it” or something, but if you can show them up by saying “oh yeah I had a 3.9 in engineering when I switched majors” that’ll shut them up ;)</p>
<p>Yes, there is a stigma. While there are obviously people who do well in engineering and end up changing majors, the majority were bombing their classes and/or really just couldn’t hack the work load and wanted to spend more time socializing - it’s a generalization, just like many others in life - founded on a factual basis but obviously shouldn’t be extrapolated onto everyone. </p>
<p>BT - Grad school admissions and the vast majority of employers will see the switch no matter if you tell them or not, it’s on your transcript. However, it won’t negatively affect you if your grades were good in engineering and then switched out.</p>
<p>It wouldn’t make sense to change majors if you have a 3.9 in an engineering major. Engineering is probably more employable than any other major, and if you are enjoying it, I’d stick it out because of the great employment opportunities (even if you want to pursue something other than engineering).</p>
<p>The first thing that came to mind when I read the OP was a report on the evening news tonight that discussed a study on stress. It discovered that people over the age of 50 experience a lot less stress than younger people, who tend to worry about little things. You just can’t worry about what other people think all the time! You’ll go nuts! Try engineering and if it doesn’t work, go for something else. My two best friends in school started out as engineers and then switched majors. I sure didn’t think less of them!</p>
<p>Thank God I’m almost 50! Life really is easier at this age.</p>
<p>Point taken. But every employer I’ve accepted an internship offer from, and many plain old interviews alone required my transcript. On top of this just about every person I’ve known that graduated with a full-time job in hand had to give a copy of their transcript. </p>
<p>I have no doubt that after the first job this procedure is more than likely canned, but if you plan to graduate with a job right out of school through university recruiting functions, you should count on having to show your transcript.</p>
<p>Every company at which I’ve ever worked (including several Fortune 500 companies) have required a transcript. It’s used as a proof of degree, proof of GPA, and proof of graduation date (a letter from the Registrar will generally only prove 2 of the 3). With that said, I’ve never really looked close enough to notice the major.</p>
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<p>I think the point of the question is if he’s “good” at engineering but just not interested in it.</p>
<p>people are always going to talk regardless of what you do, </p>
<p>I switch majors once too, I was an Architecture major before, my parents didn’t want me to change my major because they said most people would think I left Architecture because I was not creative enough to handle it, and you know what… they weren’t really far from the truth. </p>
<p>everytime I get together with my friends from my architecture classes, they always joke about me changing my major for Engineering because I could them handle all the time-consuming studio work, and that I that is the reason why i switched to a more non-creative, linear thinking, closed-minded major. But guess what? I don’t actually care, I just take it as a joke.</p>