Choosing a major is a huge decision that many incoming freshmen are not ready to make in their first semester of college.

As a result, many students spend a good part of their college experience changing from major to major.

About one-third of students are undeclared, one-third of students come in already knowing what they want to do and half of students end up changing their minds about their major, said Diane Mayes, director of academic advising for University College.

Once they start studying within a certain major, students find that it might not be the right place for them, so they make a change.

"I changed majors because I just thought PR was a better fit for me, it fit my interests better," said Taylor Hunter, public relations sophomore. "Elementary education wasn't for me."

Susie Broach, coordinator of undergraduate programs for the College of Fine Arts, said it is normal for a few students to find they chose a wrong major.

"What is common is to have a student transfer in whose parents would not allow them to major in fine arts initially," Broach said. "Often the student was very unhappy and perhaps did poorly academically."

Academic advisers work with students to help guide them to the right place. Two different placement tests can be given to students to help them with their interests: Discover, which is an in-depth test, and Sigi3. These tests can be found at uc.ou.edu/career.htm.

"With the new food, new living situation and new friends, the last thing students are thinking about is what they want to do with the rest of their lives," Mayes said.

When trying to decide a major, advisers want students to come in without any preconceived notions. They might come in only thinking pre-med and not look at anything else, Mayes said.

Many times, students wait too long to change their majors, and it pushes their graduation date back.

"I changed majors last December," Hunter said. "I kind of waited 'til the last minute, right to when I had to choose."

Changing majors can be a great thing for students if they find themselves in the wrong major. Once they are in the right college everything can fall into place.

"Students transfer in (to the College of Arts and Sciences) from all colleges across the university. If they transfer out, it is usually to arts and sciences, journalism, education or business," Broach said.

Mayes said engineering and pre-health majors seem to be the most frequently transferred out of.

"(It's) probably because they are so technical, students either don't like it or they are not suited for it," she said.

Mayes said that if it is beneficial to the student, she will encourage the student to change his or her major.

"I'm really glad I changed. I think this major will be better for me in the long run when it comes to jobs," Hunter said.
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