Changing Majors?

wolf bite · March 01, 2011, 10:21:37 AM

Nice to meet you. Strange there are "old timers" who I don't know. I am a bit older and have had a bit more life behind me than most here. So I have seen people go into areas they did not like with the regret for life. Those that follow their dream may reqret the higher income they might have made, but are happier in life.

Wolf Bite

Sharptooh · March 01, 2011, 01:24:01 PM

I'm sorry if some of this has already been said TS, I haven't read all of the posts here

Whatever you do I think it's most important that you enjoy it, my father took a course he really didn't like and kept on with it until he finished, but in the end he didn't pursure a career in the field because he decided he hated it so much, he then ended up in another job he didn't like and couldn't retrain because he didn't have the money

so it depends, do you enjoy engeneering? Or do you prefer Biology? Sure every career has it's boring "I hate this part of the job" moments, but whichever you prefer would be the one that I'd be inclined to go for

There are obviously lots of other things that should factor into the decision too, how good are you at biology? Better than engineering? And how long have you been doing engeneering (I think it's one year from your post not 100% sure) if you've been at it a long time then maybe this should factor in too

Twilight Shadow · March 01, 2011, 03:51:33 PM

Quote from: wolf bite on March 01, 2011, 10:21:37 AM
Nice to meet you. Strange there are "old timers" who I don't know. I am a bit older and have had a bit more life behind me than most here. So I have seen people go into areas they did not like with the regret for life. Those that follow their dream may reqret the higher income they might have made, but are happier in life.

Wolf Bite

If you are calling me an old timer...I am not. Have only been playing 10 months now lol. But I did just make to second from basically the bottom in three runs off an indy run with wolf lol. So I guess I am not a noob either so just a typical player I guess. But I see Shael's glue brought you back around. I have basically perfected the wolf strat until the changed the race guide stats so I am not sure anymore about that comment. But its nice to see old timers come around especially if they stay...(hint hint ;) )

wolf bite · March 01, 2011, 07:02:30 PM

Thanks for the kind words. Your name says you are an "Old Timer" because or your post count. I am sure that my name has only been something you would have seen in old posts. I may still have my admin supper powers, but would not be right to use them unless no one else was around. I plan on poking around for a bit and checking in much more than I had. This is a great place.

Wolf Bite

Juska · March 01, 2011, 09:25:50 PM

I've basically been a Freshman for three years now (one because I was one and two years being a Resident Assistant in a solely Freshmen dorm). My advice, which I hope goes along with most of what has been said already, is examine why you want to switch out of engineering. If the reason is just because the workload is too much for you currently, maybe you should re-examine things. There's a point where you can't do something because you lack the ability though. Think about what you think your called to be doing for your vocation, where do your interests, skills, and motivation all come in line and find a path that gets you to doing that. If your main motivation for engineering is making money, and from my experience that's a large draw, then you should rethink what your doing, as Wolf Bite said money is not going to give you a fulfilling life.

As for if changing majors (or paths within majors) is a big deal, it isn't. College the point in your life where your supposed to explore the possibilities and if it takes you 5 years instead of 4 to figure that out so what, your probably not going to get another chance to change your field of study. There's not a lot worse than getting a degree and then entering the workforce and deciding this isn't what you want to do with your life after all. That being said it's surprising to find out what degree people have thirty years past college and sometimes how little it means to their employment and you can always modify what you want from your degree by going to grad school.

Transferring isn't a big deal either from my experience and it's always better to change majors or transfer now in your freshmen year than later when it will most certainly hold you back.

Oh and just because I have too, don't get hung up on what is a "real" major like Volkov was talking about, every vocation is meaningful.

windhound · March 01, 2011, 10:37:58 PM

You said you're in your first year TS?
Most universities have a pretty general first year program, what are you finding challenging?
There's also what are referred to as "weed out courses" - they're there to thin the herd a bit. Those who really want to continue with push through, those not serious will change direction. After you get past these its usually not as bad.

You'll also have to be a bit more specific than "Engineering"
There's Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Chemical, Nuclear, Aerospace, etc. A pretty wide spectrum, my roommate was Civil and he really didn't like the Electrical bits he had to learn for his PE exam. I didn't mind statics and dynamics till things started moving, lol.
I graduated with an Electrical Engineering Degree. Took me 5 years, which was fairly normal at NCSU - some people needed an extra semester or two.

I mean, if you're gonna change now's the time. Most of your courses should transfer if you've only got a year in. Transferring is moderately common as well, as long as you haven't trashed your GPA yet you shouldn't have any issues.

Anyways. You're there to learn stuff to help get a job in a field you enjoy. Make it count =)

Gen. Volkov · March 01, 2011, 11:47:55 PM

QuoteOh and just because I have too, don't get hung up on what is a "real" major like Volkov was talking about, every vocation is meaningful.

When I said "real" major, I was making a distinction between something like Chemistry or Biology and Underwater Basket Weaving.

Shadow · March 02, 2011, 07:04:44 AM

Hey! I pride myself on quality baskets that can resist a good soaking!

Juska · March 02, 2011, 02:46:00 PM

Your college offered Underwater Basket Weaving as a major?

The Lady Shael · March 02, 2011, 03:08:05 PM

I went to the wrong college apparently...=(

windhound · March 02, 2011, 05:30:04 PM

Friend of my roommate was in Golf Course Management
Apparently there's more to it than you'd think, but still.

Gen. Volkov · March 02, 2011, 09:31:17 PM

QuoteYour college offered Underwater Basket Weaving as a major?

Not precisely, but it did offer "Hospitality Management", which was basically how to be a hotel clerk. Underwater Basket Weaving is a generic term for majors that you wouldn't think you'd need a college education to do. They are more common in universities with Division 1 football programs. If you are recruiting a student with a 1.5 GPA but can run the 40 yard dash in 4 seconds, you need a major that he probably will not fail out of.

The Lady Shael · March 02, 2011, 09:37:14 PM

We have Hospitality Management too...which I understand makes sense since we ARE in Orlando, but it still sounded ridiculously easy.

They had a Beer Lab. Where they had to taste and identify different varieties of beer.

Gen. Volkov · March 02, 2011, 09:41:13 PM

QuoteWe have Hospitality Management too...which I understand makes sense since we ARE in Orlando, but it still sounded ridiculously easy.

They had a Beer Lab. Where they had to taste and identify different varieties of beer.

Man, I was in the wrong major. Beer Lab? That's what we called coming to lab drunk. (Which I did... on more than a few occasions.) Late lab + nearby bar that opens early = bad combination.

Juska · March 02, 2011, 09:46:40 PM

I work at a four diamond hotel during the summers, there's a lot that goes into Hotel Management.