Considering Switching Majors

[AgentZero]

Hey NT, I'm in a tough position right now. I'm marketing major, but I need to maintain a good business GPA in order to get accepted into the business school next fall. This semester is coming to a close soon and next semester I'm going to have to take four business classes since my advisor screwed me over with registration last year for scheduling classes for this semester. I might take five since I'm considering retaking a class I did poorly in last year to boost my GPA.

I've heard from people who are in four business classes now that it's very hard to maintain your grades and I'm currently struggling with just two, though they are two of the more difficult ones. I've been stressing a ton over those classes, next semester, and my future as a business major. I know there are others that are in more difficult positions than I am and some have even had to drop classes and retake them another semester. A lot of them don't even seem to be as concerned as I am and I'm not sure whether it's just due to ignorance or because they've already accepted that they will just take some classes over the summer or that they won't graduate in four years. I would strongly prefer to graduate in four years because I'm just not happy in college and the uncertainty of the future bothers me.

There are also those who are doing better than I am and are on pace to be accepted into the business school without too much emphasis on grades from here on out. What really bothers me about it, to be brutally honest, is that I know that I'm smarter than some of them are (mainly in a broad sense). I know test scores (SAT and ACT) are only supposed to be a prediction of college success, but I scored higher than a good number of my peers, maintained a good GPA, received some awards, and attended high school in a great school district. I don't mean to humble brag about any of that at all, I just feel that I shouldn't be in the current situation I'm in and I can't help feeling that I either peaked young or fell off. 

My plan was to graduate from my university which has a high ranking business school and to use my degree in marketing to pursue a career in working for a sports team doing fan or media relations, marketing, etc. Thing is, the marketing classes I want to take and that I think I will enjoy much more than the prerequisites I'm taking now won't be available to me until after I'm accepted into the business school. The business prerequisites I've been taking and will take next semester do not interest me at all and I don't excel in them. The subjects I do excel in are English/writing and history, all of which would be unwise to get a degree in. Other possible careers I can see myself doing are being a sportswriter or analyst, because I love sports and am very knowledgeable about them. To be honest, other than that I'm not sure what I want to do with my life career wise. I'm considering switching majors to Sports and Recreation Management, which is less difficult and more in line with the career paths I want to pursue, but a degree in that is much less versatile than a business degree.

Switching majors now (between the end of this semester and the start of next semester) would put me behind the schedule to graduate in four years and I know not everyone does, but for the reasons I stated above I'd prefer to. If I go down the path I'm headed now, I could very well end up behind schedule anyways if I don't get accepted into the business school and have to do an additional semester to retake some classes, or have to completely switch majors. There's always the possibility of taking classes over the summer or maybe saving one of the five for over the summer to lighten the load a little, but at the same time I would like to have a long summer break especially since I’ll try to pursue an internship with a sports team/athletic department. 

Cliffs:

-I'm a marketing major and want to pursue a career in working for a sports team

-I've always been good academically and I'm smart, but I'm finding myself struggling a little

-I'm in business school prerequisite classes that don't interest me and I don't excel in them

-Next semester I'm taking more prerequisites and I'm not sure if I can handle the heavy course load while maintaining the GPA needed to get into the business school

-I'm considering switching majors that is more in line with my interests and career path and is less difficult

-The degree from that major is less versatile and will probably mean a lower salary

-I'm not happy in school and I'm stressing about next semester and my future as a whole

Have you switched majors before and how did it work out? Should I continue down the path I'm headed down now and struggle through an extremely difficult semester with no certainty of the end result? A business degree would probably mean a higher salary, but is it really about the money? Would I be selling myself short by switching majors? Is transferring to another school with a less rigorous business program a good option?

 

[futurehendrix]

How deep are you in?

 

[AgentZero]

How deep are you in?

I'm currently a few weeks away from finishing my first semester of sophomore year

 

[thug]

You go to Baruch?

 

[AgentZero]

You go to Baruch?

Nah I don't

 

[futurehendrix]

man you're good. Just pick the ball up and keep going. I'm engineering now industrial to be exact and expecting to graduate in may. Was scared when I had a low GPA still got an average GPA it don't matter. It depends on how hard your willing to work. Get to know your classmates I guarantee you that you will do better. Most of the classmates always have old test, pdf books, and solution manuals. Pick your head up and keep it high. If you want to switch based off your gpa, don't do it. If you want to do it based off because you're not liking it then switch. Simple as that.

 

[acemaster193]

You go to baruch?

 

[huynher]

This is that undergrad life in a nutshell.

If you're miserable now and have the impression that business school wasn't for you in the first place, then switching majors is nothing new. No big deal. So many students think their lives are going to end or something if they do. This is not the case, trust.

But if you honestly want to be in the business school, then keep at it. Even if you get bad grades and have to retake classes, you'll get there eventually. Don't give up.

Best of luck.

 

[acemaster193]

I think transferring schools is more difficult than switching majors, and that was my story exactly. Ended up transferring schools because I didn't get into the business school, because of my GPA, missed it by tenths. It was either switch majors or transfer. I ended up transferring but it was hassle to complete the new requirements at my new school and set me back a year. It was well worth it because I was able to do better the second time around, get into a credible business school, and saw lots more opportunities at my new school.

This may be a bit different than your situation, but from what I experienced, transferring schools provides a fresh start with new opportunities to explore what you want to do. Make a progressive move, not a regressive one.

 

[AgentZero]

man you're good. Just pick the ball up and keep going. I'm engineering now industrial to be exact and expecting to graduate in may. Was scared when I had a low GPA still got an average GPA it don't matter. It depends on how hard your willing to work. Get to know your classmates I guarantee you that you will do better. Most of the classmates always have old test, pdf books, and solution manuals. Pick your head up and keep it high. If you want to switch based off your gpa, don't do it. If you want to do it based off because you're not liking it then switch. Simple as that.

Yeah I've started working with study groups which have helped me a little, I started the semester off rough and I'm working towards bringing my grades up. If GPA wasn't a concern I'd go through with being a business major, but I would hate a good amount of the classes. It's a little of both that's making me consider switching. So I shouldn't really consider the money aspect? Or will that come with time/experience and moving up the ranks, regardless of major?

 

[futurehendrix]

What type of business major are you?

 

[AgentZero]

I think transferring schools is more difficult than switching majors, and that was my story exactly. Ended up transferring schools because I didn't get into the business school, because of my GPA, missed it by tenths. It was either switch majors or transfer. I ended up transferring but it was hassle to complete the new requirements at my new school and set me back a year. It was well worth it because I was able to do better the second time around, get into a credible business school, and saw lots more opportunities at my new school.

This may be a bit different than your situation, but from what I experienced, transferring schools provides a fresh start with new opportunities to explore what you want to do. Make a progressive move, not a regressive one.

It's actually pretty similar since I'll likely make or miss the business school by tenths. Not sure if this is a question you could answer since it depends on the school, but should I expect around an extra year if I were to transfer? I chose to be a business major because I got into a high ranking business school and I figured that it'd be a well rounded degree. My heart was never really in it to be honest because the classes I'm taking don't interest me and it plays into whether I should try it again with a fresh start (if I were to not get in) or get a fresh start doing something that'll interest me.

What type of business major are you?

Marketing, but none of the prerequisite classes have anything to do with it

 

[acemaster193]

OP, I probably can't answer that question for you because of the differences in our respective schools. I was held back a year because the school I transferred to didn't accept all my credits, and I had to retake English, science, business, and math classes. That was a pain in the *** and I was seriously not interested in school my first two years at my new school. I overcame my disinterest by basically forcing myself to study and attend classes.


You're also referring to not having passion in your major and business school in general. This may be your central issue. You've gotta make sure you're up for school because you'll be miserable and just waste your time and money. A degree may help you break into the field and open more doors for you. Not sure how necessary a degree is in sports marketing, but it will definitely provide more opportunities, make you more marketable, and allow you to possibly network.

 

[AgentZero]

OP, I probably can't answer that question for you because of the differences in our respective schools. I was held back a year because the school I transferred to didn't accept all my credits, and I had to retake English, science, business, and math classes. That was a pain in the *** and I was seriously not interested in school my first two years at my new school. I overcame my disinterest by basically forcing myself to study and attend classes.


You're also referring to not having passion in your major and business school in general. This may be your central issue. You've gotta make sure you're up for school because you'll be miserable and just waste your time and money. A degree may help you break into the field and open more doors for you. Not sure how necessary a degree is in sports marketing, but it will definitely provide more opportunities, make you more marketable, and allow you to possibly network.

Ok I see what you mean, if I do transfer hopefully my Gen Ed credits would be accepted because I've done well and completed a lot of them. Attending class isn't an issue for me, it's mainly just not being interested in the classes I'm taking and knowing that these are the same classes that are the most difficult and matter the most. I'm breaking out of the mentality that I don't need to be studying for hours like I used to be able to do and I've gotten better at studying overall this year.

I agree. I think I'm up for school, just maybe not specifically business school. I'd assume I'd be more interested/happy once and if I get into the business school and get to classes specifically for my major, but overall not as much as I think I'd be taking Sports and Rec Management classes. A degree would definitely help me get my foot in the door and I'm trying to pursue some internships over the summer.

 

[kickstart]

Sounds like you should check your ego and really sit down and think about what you want out of life.

 

[AgentZero]

Sounds like you should check your ego and really sit down and think about what you want out of life.

Ego? I didn't mean to sound like I had one, and I don't, I just wanted to give people an idea of where I'm coming from and how I'm not used to struggling so that they'd get a better idea of my situation. I want to be happy, but I also want to be successful and make a decent living having a good job.

 

[bowflex]

If you want to switch based off your gpa, don't do it. If you want to do it based off because you're not liking it then switch. Simple as that.

Co-sign

I thought taking 6 classes in one semester would be the worst time of my life. I did it and knocked it out because that's what needed to be done. College is all about time management. If you want the marketing degree, do what you need to and knock it out. If you don't have the interest in it, I would just make the switch now. 

 

[AgentZero]

 
I thought taking 6 classes in one semester would be the worst time of my life. I did it and knocked it out because that's what needed to be done. College is all about time management. If you want the marketing degree, do what you need to and knock it out. If you don't have the interest in it, I would just make the switch now. 

Just curious, but were the majority of them classes you were interested in? I'll admit I'm not the best at consistently putting in a lot of time into each of my classes, not just in the few days before a test. I think if they were classes I was more interested in I would be able to do that. Then again, I haven't been able to experience any marketing classes yet to gauge my interest in them, but but I won't be able to until I'm in the business school so there's a little unknown there.

 

[bowflex]

 
Just curious, but were the majority of them classes you were interested in? I'll admit I'm not the best at consistently putting in a lot of time into each of my classes, not just in the few days before a test. I think if they were classes I was more interested in I would be able to do that. Then again, I haven't been able to experience any marketing classes yet to gauge my interest in them, but but I won't be able to until I'm in the business school so there's a little unknown there.

I had five 400 level business courses for my Management major and a 300 level Philosophy class to finish off my minor. I was ready to be done with college, so I can say that I was only really interested in 1 of the classes. By the sounds of it, you only have one more semester until you reach your major classes. Sprinkle in some classes that you think will be fun to get you through the semester and boost your GPA. I took a Critical thinking class because it sounded interesting and I placed one of my major classes on hold. That led to me getting Philosophy as a minor. The discussions we had in those classes made my business classes seem like a cake walk.

 

[AgentZero]

 I had five 400 level business courses for my Management major and a 300 level Philosophy class to finish off my minor. I was ready to be done with college, so I can say that I was only really interested in 1 of the classes. By the sounds of it, you only have one more semester until you reach your major classes. Sprinkle in some classes that you think will be fun to get you through the semester and boost your GPA. I took a Critical thinking class because it sounded interesting and I placed one of my major classes on hold. That led to me getting Philosophy as a minor. The discussions we had in those classes made my business classes seem like a cake walk.

Yeah I only have one more semester before applying to the business school and reaching major classes. Since I'll likely be taking five business classes I don't think it'd be a good idea to add any other classes and it's my GPA in my business classes that really matters. If applying to the business school was based off of overall GPA I wouldn't be as concerned. Were the discussions that difficult/challenging? Personally, I think it'd be able to excel in a class like that as opposed to my business classes so it wouldn't have the same effect sadly.

 

[bowflex]

 
Yeah I only have one more semester before applying to the business school and reaching major classes. Since I'll likely be taking five business classes I don't think it'd be a good idea to add any other classes and it's my GPA in my business classes that really matters. If applying to the business school was based off of overall GPA I wouldn't be as concerned. Were the discussions that difficult/challenging? Personally, I think it'd be able to excel in a class like that as opposed to my business classes so it wouldn't have the same effect sadly.

That period before reaching the major classes is the same for a lot of people. Most people feel like they are ready to take on the major classes, but they have 15-30 Gen Ed credits remaining to fill up. Then you feel the school only offers that many Gen Ed. classes to take more money from you lol. I had my major declared from day one. I also have friends who switched majors around this same time period as you. Neither of us have any regrets, so you just have to weigh your options at this point. You may take a class that changes your whole career path. Philosophy classes are funny because you have so many ways to look at things and mind blowing moments of realization. Other times we would listen to 20 minute tangents that my professor would make, but usually had a good message at the end. Business discussions are usually more to the point and you do not have to get as introspective. I knew that I wouldn't set myself up for a great earning potential majoring in Philosophy, but it has definitely helped me become more well rounded in the areas that business do not cover.

 

[koolaidgeorge]

I'm in the same exact situation OP. I'm finding this semester so challenging and I really  unsure about switching majors. I just need everything to workout

 

[lucho]

I switched at around 2.5 years into college. Went from math major to civil engineering. I switched because I wasn't into math anymore, and a lot of my classmates in my calculus classes kept talking about engineering. I took engineering courses as my electives for my math major, liked what I was learning, and just made the switch. It was never about the money for me, although it is a perk now that I graduated and am working.

Like they said, switch because you aren't liking the material, not because you're struggling.

 

[AgentZero]

 That period before reaching the major classes is the same for a lot of people. Most people feel like they are ready to take on the major classes, but they have 15-30 Gen Ed credits remaining to fill up. Then you feel the school only offers that many Gen Ed. classes to take more money from you lol. I had my major declared from day one. I also have friends who switched majors around this same time period as you. Neither of us have any regrets, so you just have to weigh your options at this point. You may take a class that changes your whole career path. Philosophy classes are funny because you have so many ways to look at things and mind blowing moments of realization. Other times we would listen to 20 minute tangents that my professor would make, but usually had a good message at the end. Business discussions are usually more to the point and you do not have to get as introspective. I knew that I wouldn't set myself up for a great earning potential majoring in Philosophy, but it has definitely helped me become more well rounded in the areas that business do not cover.

Part of me almost wishes I had gone to CC for my first year or two years, just so I could get those Gen Eds out of the way and could experience a bunch of classes and find my interests from there, and then transfer. The only class that really "impacted" me was a writing class I took last year. I had a great professor who encouraged some really good class discussions that pressed on larger issues, using the material as a gateway to it. That helped me to find out that I was a pretty good writer and that writing about sports was something I enjoyed doing and was interested in it. I'm someone who's very introspective and I wish there was a way for me to display that side of myself in business classes. Along with that there's just a few skills/things I possess that I'm not able to take advantage of in the business classes I'm in. How important is a minor exactly? I could always major in Sports and Rec Management and get a minor in Business, sort of a best of both worlds.

 

[georgehimself]

How deep are you in?

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