<p>I got to know my professor really well and told him that I would major in his research field. He said he would hook me up with some research and internships and write my recs to grad school.</p>
<p>Now I want to change my major, but still want his recs and connects for grad school.</p>
<p>What should I do? I feel bad about changing seeing as he's been a kind of mentor to me.</p>
<p>If it’s a similar field (e.g, one science major to another) then simply explain how your interests changed, maybe based on a book you read or a class you took that inspired you to change your major. He can still write your recc and hook you up with an internship regardless of whether you’re majoring in his department. For example, let’s say you’re majoring in biochemistry, a reccommendation from any science professor who knows you well and can speak highly of you would be great for a research internship. hopefully he will understand; he’s a professor and probably realizes students are young and change our minds several times in college.</p>
<p>Change your major, and let your prof know you’re doing this and why. Also let him know that you’ve appreciated his mentoring.</p>
<p>By the time you apply to grad school, you may be very close to other professors in your new field who’ll be even better recommenders for you. If not, more than likely – as long as you keep your ties with the professor whose major you’re leaving, that professor probably still will write recc for you.</p>
<p>Saying this as a former professor who remembers when her favorite advisee dropped by to tell me that he was switching to a different major. I still liked him, and encouraged him in his new goals. More than 10 years later, we’re still in touch.</p>
<p>Most professors don’t just care about students because of the students’ majors.</p>