For Students Considering Changing Majors
by Elena Ivanova, PhD
After Bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biotech, then a 6-month internship in the industry as a chemical engineer, I decided to change my major. I’ve switched to molecular biology and got my Master’s degree. Afterwards, I started a PhD in the field of high-throughput analysis of protein homeostasis without any background in screening techniques and programming! In this blog, I would like to share my experience and encourage everyone not to be afraid of changing a major.
Why would anyone want to change the field?
We have to make a career choice being quite young and after a semester or so someone might feel that the choice was not right. The reasons might be different: your expectations from the field of study were different from the reality, you found some practical courses difficult and consequently you are not motivated anymore, or you just found something more exciting for yourself, which happened to me. In this case, it is important to start thinking about whether this field of study is for you and if you want to change it.
How to make a decision?
Making the switch might be very stressful. Calm down and wait, dropping out directly after you faced a first challenge is not the best option. Try to complete a chapter (semester, course, year of study), while doing this and devoting more time to the subject, you might still solve the difficulties or find the motivation. Talk to your peers, senior students and professors, communication is a key for everything! You can also use this time to do some research about the new field, try to extend your network, and get in touch with the people working and studying a new subject, an internship would be a perfect option to taste a new field better.
Is a smooth transition possible?
The university usually makes it possible to transfer some credits depending on what subject you choose next and, yes, it can be possible to have a smooth transition in the beginning. But even at the end of your Bachelor’s degree, it is still not too late to make changes! A Master’s degree system is quite flexible and sometimes it is possible to join the program even with a Bachelor’s degree in a different field. Of course, the further your background is from a new topic, the more challenging it will be. Since the background is poor, you need to catch up a lot, but everything depends on your motivation. If you are passionate and inspired just give it a try!
Would it make a negative impact on my future job applications?
How will it look in my CV? Would it be important for the recruiters? These questions are also common while thinking about changing a major. The most important thing is to find something that you care about because you are going to do it for the long term. The time that you spend on your first subject is not wasted, you also learned and gained experience. But it does not make sense to force yourself to do things that do not fit you. Unless you are at the end of the last semester. In this case, it is better to complete the chapter, show your responsibility and persistence. We are learning throughout the whole life and it is the most exciting and inspiring thing!
Good luck with your career choice and don’t be afraid of the changes!
If you are interested in more articles related to Graduate Studies, check this out:https://thedarwinsmonkey.medium.com/the-5-best-productivity-tools-for-research-students-and-academics-in-2021-a616a4e47d36
#Academicvoice #Lifeinacademia #PhD #Masters #Graduatestudy #Changingmajor #AcademicChatter #Biontech #Q&A