It's never an easy decision when you have to choose which college to attend or major to take.
You'll have to spend a lot of time researching schools, sometimes even visiting their campuses. Even when you've picked one following the advice of your teacher, parents or your own intuition, self-doubt can creep in.
You'd be going through a lot of questions in your head. Did I make the right choice, will I fit in socially? What's the coursework like? These are questions that would make you second-guess yourself.
In the post, I'll share 7 signs you chose the wrong college or major.
6 Signs You Chose the Wrong College or Major
The truth is, no college experience is really perfect. Perhaps you've tried your best to fit in, but somehow it's not just working.
Here are seven signs you chose the wrong college or major and you need to do something about it.
1. You constantly feel unhappy or out of place
The first sign you've picked the wrong college is you feel entirely out of place. That's not to say you haven't tried to make it work, but you don't seem to be able to connect with your coursemate.
Something like this can do a lot of harm to your academics, you'd feel uncomfortable and lack focus during lectures.
There could be a number of reasons why you feel this way. It could be school culture, the competitive nature of internships or grades. A lot of time it's possible you're not used to the level of high stress, and having to deal with all that is just too much for you to handle.
2. The academic program doesn't meet your expectations
Another tell sign that points you've picked the wrong college or major is when you feel everything is just too easy. It's possible the courses you're having are somewhat different from what you researched.
You might also be disappointed with the curriculum being outdated or repetitive.
Sometimes, it's not about being too easy. There are other times when most of the courses, assignments and projects are a pain in the neck.
You see, lack of expectations is one of the most obvious reasons a lot of students transfer to another university.
3. You're still struggling academically despite your efforts
Struggling in college to some extent is indeed normal. But when it goes on for several months, even when you're staying up late to study, it speaks volumes about the major you choose. And maybe the college itself.
So, if you currently feel like an outsider academically, we strongly recommend you reevaluate your next step. You don't want your GPA to sink each semester. This is arguably the most obvious sign you choose the wrong major or college.
4. The financial stress you're dealing with is overwhelming
Tuition, room and board, books, lab fees and basic living expenses can add up to a significant financial burden. Even with loans and part-time employment, some students face ongoing financial stress.
You may avoid going out with friends or joining clubs because you can't afford the extras. You may also find that ongoing financial stress affects your ability to concentrate on lectures or exams.
5. Your mental or physical health is suffering.
College is an exciting time for personal development and self-discovery. But it also brings with it new commitments and a heavy workload.
Juggling rigorous academics, extracurriculars, and social life while adapting to a new environment proves demanding. Perhaps you turn to unhealthy coping strategies like excessive drinking or pulling serial all-nighters to get everything done. But adverse effects inevitably emerge.
You may battle heightened anxiety, depression, headaches, or exhaustion that makes daily functioning a major challenge. If caring for mental or physical well-being becomes difficult with all the college pressures weighing on you, something feels very amiss.
6. The campus culture doesn't align with your values
Beyond sheer academics, you have to feel comfortable with campus culture overall, including political climate, diversity, sustainability efforts, activism opportunities, religious groups, and more.
You want to thrive for four years or more immersed in that student body. But what if certain campus elements promote values conflicting with your own?
Say you chose a religiously affiliated institution hoping for spiritual growth, yet feel the college’s religious culture is too dogmatic or constraining—with too many required services to attend or strict codes limiting self-expression. Wherever you end up, the culture should largely align with what matters to you.
What to Do If You Chose the Wrong Major or College
Alright the mistake has been made already. The question is, what can you do to change it? Here are what you need to do if you’ve chosen the wrong course or major.
You must think and find the causes
Think carefully about the factors you think are most responsible for your dissatisfaction or difficulties. It could be social or academic difficulties that do not align with your major.
Write your thoughts down in a journal. The clearer you are about the causes of your dissatisfaction, the better.
There may be solutions such as changing your major or trying out new clubs. But if the problems lie deeper, it makes more sense to change your course.
Talk to academic advisors and support staff
Schedule a few appointments to discuss your situation honestly and candidly with professionals. There are folks on campus who are trained or have a network to do so, such as academic advisors, counselling services staff, or campus mentors.
Tell them about your difficulties with courses, professors, financial hardships, health problems, or social isolation. Their advice can be especially useful when considering options. They could even help you get access to emergency funding or other help you didn’t know existed.
Explore your transfer options
I'd say this is the worst-case scenario. When you've tried your best to make things work, but it all seems unfixable, it's best you consider your transfer options.
This time around, ensure you look for a college that hits the right marks in terms of academics, the expenses, location and everything.
Just ensure this time around you really pay attention to every detail.
Conclusion
Having a hard time in college in the first few weeks is normal. It becomes worrying, when it's months and you're still feeling out of place.
With the signs I've pointed out, you'll be able to tell if the college or major is the best fit for you or perhaps it's time you transferred.
This is a decision you'll have to make, so it's best you give it some time to see if things will take the natural order of things and get better.
Also, don't bottle your challenges up. Speak with your course adviser or a tutor to hear their opinions.
If you're having low grades and your GPA is something you're not proud of, you need to take advantage of StudyFetch.
StudyFetch offers a suite of AI tools that mould you into a better student academically.
