Is it bad to change your major as a sophomore?
There is generally no limit to how many times a student may change their major, but Brooks says San Diego State recommends students "be settled into" their major by their junior year. Experts also discourage changing majors during junior or senior years, though it's technically possible for students to do so.
Changing your major isn't likely to make you look bad to employers, so you shouldn't let this concern stop you. Instead, employers might appreciate that you focused on figuring out what you really want to do and took the time and effort to study a different major.
An estimated 20-50% of students enter college undeclared. What's more, around 75% of students change their major at least once in their college career.
Although switching majors in the middle of the semester is possible, do not drop (or stop attending) classes just because they don't apply to your new desired major. It is still important to do the coursework and earn good grades to keep a strong GPA.
- You May Not Graduate on Time. If you discover you want to change your major in your sophomore or junior year, you might end up having to take an extra semester or two to graduate. ...
- It May Cost More in Tuition to Switch. ...
- Switching Majors May Not Be What You Truly Wanted.
There is no shame in changing your major. In fact, it's far more common than you might think it is! What's most important is that you feel like you're getting a worthwhile investment while building the skills you're passionate about.
Changing majors don't affect a GPA. A final grade in a class, or classes, do. This is why people, who have the money to spend, take one, or more, easy elective classes to boost a GPA.
As many as 50 to 75% of all undergraduate students change majors at least one time before earning a degree.
On average, college students change their major at least three times over the course of their college career. Is Switching Majors a Bad Thing? Contrary to popular belief, switching college majors can actually increase a student's likelihood of graduating from college, according to a new study from the EAB.
It's Okay to Be Undecided
At most colleges, students typically must declare a major by the end of their sophomore year, so there's time. Students shouldn't choose a major just to choose one — especially if it's a subject area that's overly challenging.
Is it harder to get accepted as undecided?
For most colleges, choosing “undecided” as your major will not affect your chances of getting accepted. Admissions officers understand that some students won't be ready to commit to a degree path right out of high school.
Consider the following “factoids”: 50–70 percent of college students change their major at least once during their time in college. Most majors lead to a wide variety of opportunities rather than to one specific career, although some majors do indeed lead to specific careers.

Switching majors is similar to college transfer. Changing majors across colleges or schools within the same university is as tough as changing majors from a different college to another university. In doing so, the requirements and courses are so different, that it is like changing institutions.
The top-earning majors are in so-called STEM fields, or degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Half of the top 10 majors with graduates making the most money are subsets of engineering.
College students can change majors at any point in their college career. However, the sooner you change your major, the less impact the change will have on your graduation date.
For instance, switching majors during your junior or senior year could cause you to lose hard-earned units and postpone your graduation date. Additionally, if a major change adds another semester (or two) to your degree plan, it can cost you more money.
Summary. Adding a double major and double minor in college can add great value to your degree by expanding your career pathways, making your resume stand out to employers, and broadening your educational experience.
About 80 percent of students in the United States end up changing their major at least once, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. On average, college students change their major at least three times over the course of their college career.
Regret is heavily influenced by salary.
The top three regretted majors, according to ZipRecruiter, are journalism (87%), sociology (72%), and liberal arts and general studies (72%). The top three regret-free majors, all above 70%, are computer and information sciences, criminology, and engineering.
Changing Your Major Can Add $18,000 in Tuition
The longer you wait, the more it'll cost. For example, if you change your major in your sophomore year, you can probably maintain the same timeline and tuition costs.
Can your GPA change after sophomore year?
Yes! During any semester students have the opportunity to raise their GPA by earning top grades or grades that are increase over previous semesters.
All Years Matter
When it comes to GPA, “A” is the most important letter here, and this stands for “Average.” Your grade point average will be made up of all of the classes you've taken each year over the course of your high school journey, so therefore, all your years of school and classes matter for your GPA.
If you have a 3.0 GPA and 15 credit hours, by earning straight A's during your next (15 credit) semester, you can bump your GPA to a 3.5. However, if you have already earned 60 credit hours and have a 3.0 GPA a straight-A semester will only bump your GPA to a 3.2.
- 52% of math majors switched to another major.
- 40% of natural sciences majors switched.
- 37% of education majors switched.
- 36% of humanities majors switched.
- 35% of all STEM majors switched.
- 32% of engineering majors switched.
- 32% of general studies majors switched.
- 31% of social science majors switched.
Most schools don't factor your intended major into their admissions decisions. It can be difficult to know which majors are more or less competitive at a certain school. Colleges want your classes and extracurriculars to relate to your chosen major.
Most US universities and colleges give you the opportunity to change your major during your first year of study.
What percentage of people drop out of college? Around 40% of undergraduate students leave universities and colleges every year (Education Data Initiative [EDI], 2021).
Average graduation rates
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found that 62.3 percent of full-time students at all four-year institutions graduate within six years. However, that number is higher at private nonprofit institutions and lower at private for-profit and public institutions.
There are some clear benefits to earning a minor. Undergrads can complement their major and develop interdisciplinary strengths with a minor. What's more, a minor lets students explore fields outside their major. A minor might even help you out after graduation as you look for jobs.
Sophomore Year
Your sophomore, junior, and senior years foretell your academic ability to succeed in college. Colleges will look at your sophomore grades, whether it's to see if you maintained an acceptable GPA or improved from the year before.
Does sophomore year GPA matter?
Your first year and sophomore year affect your cumulative GPA, which is important to most colleges. However, a solid academic record in your junior year is likely to carry more importance with an admissions committee.
The term sophomore is also used to refer to a student in the second year of college or university studies in the United States; typically a college sophomore is 19 to 20 years old.
Most admissions experts agree that in most cases, there's no harm in putting “undecided” on your college application. Admissions counselors know that choosing your major is a tough decision, so they're not surprised when some students just aren't sure about what they want to study.
Searching for colleges is a bit harder. Many students start their college search by researching schools that excel in the major they're interested in. If you haven't selected a major yet, however, it's a bit harder to find the ideal college for what you want to study.
Liberal Arts Studies. It is very common for an undecided individual to pursue a liberal arts degree. With this major, you will study a multitude of topics, including math, philosophy, literature, and history. Since your courses will involve general topics, it provides education that makes you well-rounded.
Education | Age 25 and over | Age 25-30 |
---|---|---|
Bachelor's degree | 34.98% | 36.98% |
Master's degree | 13.04% | 9.01% |
Professional degree | 3.47% | 2.02% |
Doctorate | 2.03% | 1.12% |
Certain courses, internships or job experiences may change a student's mind about pursuing a certain degree path. Some might decide they prefer a major with a higher starting salary. Others may experience a change of heart and discover a new interest or passion while in college.
Statistics about the prevalence of procrastination
Studies show that around 20% of adults procrastinate chronically. Studies show that around 50% of college students procrastinate in a consistent and chronic manner, 75% consider themselves to be procrastinators, and 80%–95% of college students procrastinate.
Some students don't even begin to take major-related courses until their junior year, so if you know you want to change your declared major during your sophomore year, you have plenty of time to make that decision.
The best time to change your major is in or immediately after your first year. Make sure you complete the semester or full school year to be sure of your decision. However, even if you do not fall during this time, it may just require a little more help and support.
What's the hardest major in college?
- Chemistry.
- Environmental Economics and Policy.
- Environmental Earth Science.
- American Studies.
- Nuclear Engineering.
- Energy Engineering.
- Astrophysics.
- Applied Mathematics.
Highest-Paying Majors
Engineering majors made the most right after college, however, graduates who majored in business, economics, and math also made median wages well over $50,000.
Business Major
Business isn't just one of the easiest college majors — it's also the most popular major. You'll study core topics like accounting, management, and organizational behavior. You can specialize your skills with upper-level courses in logistics, training and development, or entrepreneurship.
You have three options if you're troubled by an inglorious GPA: Retake the courses you flopped to earn a better grade and reapply for to your first-choice major. Transfer to a university where the GPA requirement for your intended major is lower. Declare a new major at your school.
College students can change majors at any point in their college career. However, the sooner you change your major, the less impact the change will have on your graduation date.
Is it too late to transfer colleges as a sophomore? No. Sophomore year is one of the most common times to transfer colleges, especially considering that many students will transfer to a two-year college to complete their associate's degree.
On average, college students change their major at least three times over the course of their college career. Is Switching Majors a Bad Thing? Contrary to popular belief, switching college majors can actually increase a student's likelihood of graduating from college, according to a new study from the EAB.
The best time to transfer is the end of sophomore year/start of junior year. Why? If you try transferring during freshman year, the only real grades you have will be from high school, and those senior-year grades will matter—a lot. If you finished high school on a high note, then, by all means, aim to transfer earlier.
Colleges will look at your sophomore grades, whether it's to see if you maintained an acceptable GPA or improved from the year before. Getting a headstart with strong grades and challenging school work alongside extracurricular activities can make all the difference when you reach your senior year.
Myth: It's hard for transfer students to make friends.
Gregariousness and timidity don't know class years or your transfer status. But, fortunately, wherever you're coming from, colleges and universities have plenty of ways for you to meet people and build a new circle of friends on campus.
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