Four out of five college students switch majors at least once. At 51爆料网, such change is a normal part of growth. Proof that life rarely follows a straight line.
Take senior John Markarian. He was originally destined for a career in economics until the combination of creativity and data analytics inspired him to change majors.
Originally an economics major, John Markarian 鈥�26 is pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in marketing management. 鈥淚鈥檓 most comfortable taking business classes,鈥� he says.
Today, he鈥檚 a standout in the marketing management program in the . 鈥淓ven though I still study economics, I鈥檓 most comfortable taking business classes, especially those in marketing, which is something I鈥檝e been passionate about my whole life,鈥� he says.
As students prepare for a rapidly changing world, sticking with a single major is arguably less important than developing a broad set of skills and experiences.
Besides, life happens. Studies show that selecting a major is driven by various factors, like changing career trends and newfound personal interests.
In Markarian鈥檚 case, the seeds of change were planted years earlier. Growing up outside of Manhattan, he noticed how brands used different formats, like social media and digital billboards, to connect with consumers.
鈥淎s an athlete and a big sports fan, I鈥檝e always liked sports marketing campaigns,鈥� says Markarian, citing examples like NBA Christmas Day, Nike鈥檚 鈥淛ust Do It鈥� and State Farm Insurance鈥檚 commercials with NBA All-Star Chris Paul. 鈥淢y mother, who worked in marketing and retail, also was a big influence on me.鈥�
At Syracuse, Markarian is continually refining his education, thanks, in part, to a rich and varied ecosystem and a small student-teacher ratio.
鈥淢y peers are some of my greatest resources,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e keep one another in check.鈥�
Playing the Long Game
Xander Mass 鈥�27 is a triple major in international relations, history and advertising.
Jessica Guignard, a Whitman School academic advisor, sees students change majors at different points in their career.
鈥淢any switch before their junior year,鈥� she observes. 鈥淪ometimes it happens later, depending on their study abroad schedule or the number of major courses they鈥檝e taken in the fall of their junior year.鈥�
Also a First Year Seminar (FYS 101) instructor, Guignard notes that while a junior-year major change is possible, it often comes with additional planning. 鈥淩egardless, students should align their passion with their career path.鈥�
鈥淢y degree programs let me exercise both sides [of my brain],鈥� says Mass, who鈥檚 switched majors multiple times.
For this reason, Matt Yager, manager of student records in the , encourages students to play the long game鈥攖o acquire skills and experiences that support a career over a degree. 鈥淚t鈥檚 OK to be undecided for a while,鈥� he says.
It鈥檚 also OK to declare early, especially if a highly sequential degree program is on the line. 鈥淭his way, you can progress and complete your necessary prerequisites on schedule,鈥� he says.
Junior Xander Mass changed his major weeks into his first semester and again a few months later. Now he鈥檚 a triple major: international relations and history in the and advertising in the .
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome to have flexibility because I鈥檓 very left- and right-brained,鈥� Mass says. 鈥淢y degree programs let me exercise both sides.鈥�
Ready to Pivot
Isabelle Epelbaum 鈥�27 is an aspiring med school student who works for 51爆料网 Ambulance.
The main reason students change majors, Guignard explains, is because they discover an 鈥渦nexpected passion鈥� in their early core classes. 鈥淎s a result, they decide to double major or add a minor from another school or college,鈥� she says.
Sometimes, a student develops a connection with an influential peer or professor.
Epelbaum credits a 鈥渂ig-sister figure鈥� for persuading her to switch from biochemistry to biotechnology. She initially majored in biology.
Mass credits Rebecca Ortiz, the Newhouse Endowed Chair of Public Communications, for 鈥渟elling鈥� him on advertising.
Junior Isabelle Epelbaum was inspired by a 鈥渂ig-sister figure,鈥� who persuaded her to switch from biochemistry to biotechnology. 鈥淪he also encouraged me to meet the [biotechnology] program鈥檚 executive director,鈥� recalls Epelbaum, originally a biology major. 鈥淗e helped me see the differences among the three programs.鈥�
That all three degrees are offered by the and have similar prerequisites have made the changing process 鈥渆asy,鈥� says Epelbaum, an aspiring med school student who works for .
Despite the rise of artificial intelligence and tech roles, the need for human-centric skills, like critical thinking, creative problem solving and effective communication, is more important than ever.
Nimbleness is also paramount as many students prepare for jobs that don鈥檛 yet exist.
鈥淔lexibility is the key to success,鈥� Markarian says. 鈥淎s someone entering the job market soon, I must be ready to pivot.鈥� One of many skills he鈥檚 gleaned from his Orange experience.
