The trip to Dowling Hall to turn in a Declaration of Major Form can seem as final as the decision to come to Tufts in the first place. Although the ultimate experience is underwhelming — it's as simple as tossing the deceivingly flimsy piece of paper over the counter to the desk jockey with a quiet "thank you" — it's hard not to view the process as a major turning point in the typical four years that undergraduates spend on the Hill.
For some students, however, buyer's regret can often prompt a reversal on what once seemed like a permanent decision. It's a daunting decision, and one that has seen mixed results from the students who took the leap.
Senior Danielle Wilson switched during her junior year into the School of Engineering to pursue a degree in environmental engineering after she had initially declared a double−major in community health and engineering science the previous year.
Although Tufts students in the School of Arts and Sciences must declare a major by the spring of their sophomore year, and engineering students by the end of their freshman year, it is not uncommon for students, such as Wilson, to switch majors during their junior year.
The switch happens for many different reasons.
One, according to Director of Advising and Scholarships Laura Doane, is simply that more information about a specific major or department can lead to a change of heart.
"Some students will find that what they understood of a field before they came to Tufts does not match their understanding of the complexities of that discipline after a couple of college courses," Doane explained in an email to the Daily.
In particular, Doane said, four semesters can be insufficient time for some to make such a major academic decision.
"I have worked with a number of students who changed their major in junior or senior year because they had not met with faculty in a variety of departments or utilized resources like Career Services," she said. "They simply did not have enough information to make a strong major decision early."
Wilson changed her major because she felt an engineering degree would be better−received in the professional world. This was important as she began to consider her future after Tufts, she noted.
"It makes it much easier to become a professional engineer, and those programs are well−recognized," she said.
Dean of Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies Carmen Lowe told the Daily in an email that while switching for this reason can feel right, pressure to secure a job after graduation shouldn't be a drive to switch.
Students might discover after switching that they have little aptitude or interest in the subject, thus causing problems down the road.
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education Karen Gould explained that some students feel like they need to begin planning for a career as soon as they get to Tufts.
"It is given in the current economic climate that it feels that the only majors one should select are ones that have a job title attached to it," she said.
Some, Lowe said, are "pushed by their parents to major in something that sounds practical, marketable or lucrative."
An undergraduate degree in a certain field, however, isn't a guarantee of a path toward a career or graduate degree, and that decision should be based on a student's current interests.
"If you do your research, you find out that every major has the capacity to prepare you for a career or for graduate school," Gould said.
"Pursuing a strong interest in an area that plays to your strengths often leads to a happier, more successful career path than sticking with a major that does not appeal to you and in which you have no real talent, which may lead to a career that does not appeal to you and in which you have no real talent," Lowe added.
Lowe said that some students may decide on their new majors too late and thus will not be able to graduate on time. While an extended stay on the Hill may seem tempting to some Jumbos, Lowe recommends waiting before deciding a change, should it necessitate an extra semester to complete the additional credits.
"Sometimes a student who has been concentrating in one area will suddenly discover a new−found passion in a completely unrelated area. My thought is, great; take classes in that area, but if it delays graduation… then the official switch may not be worth it."
Interest in a new topic can manifest itself in places besides on a diploma, she added.
"A student does not need an official credential to show they have a passion or an interest in the subject; this can always be added to a resume or an application letter, or discussed in a job interview."
For students who are still willing to change their minds and make that trip to Dowling a second time, Lowe advises first finding a professor in their desired new major who is willing to be their adviser.
Gould advises that the student should also come to his or her academic dean to discuss the situation.
"If you find yourself in a major that doesn't fit, don't let hubris or fear get in the way. Come and talk to your dean or someone whose opinion you trust about what's going on."
Doane says that juniors or seniors need not feel anxious about asking for help if they find themselves questioning the decision they made during their freshman or sophomore years.
"Faculty want to meet with students. Staff [members] want to meet with students. The university's resources are for students, so everyone should be reading the department and concentration websites, and then meeting with faculty and staff in those areas to discuss their interest," she said. "It is our pleasure to be of assistance, as well as our jobs."
Wilson dropped her community health major, and she didn't have too much logistical trouble switching into the engineering school thanks to some careful planning.
"I foresaw myself making the switch… to environmental engineering so I structured my classes to align with what environmental engineers took."
For Wilson, the most difficult part was internal. "I stressed out a lot when I was trying to figure everything out, but once I made the decision, things went smoothly," she said.
Although it was a source of stress, Wilson is happy with her decision.
"I learned a lot about myself and about what I want to do and do not want to do with my life. Changing majors late is not the end of the world. Students should really concentrate on studying what they want to study and should make sure that they are happy where they are."
