Before college, when I was try
ing to decide what I wanted to study in college, I narrowed down my choices to engineering and becoming a police officer. I felt like I would be happy w
ith either one, and I picked engineering, because I really liked the concept, and it seemed like the right thing to do. Even though I picked engineering, law enforcement was still in the back of my mind, and I still thought about it often. Taking introductory engineering classes has made me realize that I would like that, but I would see it more of as a hobby than as a job. I feel you really have to be passionate about your job. Today I had the epiphany that I have to do what I feel is the right thing to do, and that means changing my major to law enforcement.
What do you think? Is it a good idea to change? How do I tell my parents that I want to change my major? I hope they will understand, since many college students end up changing their major at some point. I am a freshman in college by the way
How do you feel about changing your major in college?
This is very normal. It is almost impossible to ask people what they want to do before they have had a chance to take any courses in the subject matter. And, as a freshman, you probably won't lose any time in making the switch. If you had waited a year or two, it might have taken you longer to graduate.
Assuming you don't come from a family which is anti-law enforcement, they should not have a problem with the concept. E
xpect, though, that often when we tell people we are going to do one thing, they start to think of us in those ter
ms, and when we switch, they often object more because it flies in the face of the image they have developed of you than because their is anything wrong with the new direction.
How do you feel about changing your major in college?
I'm almost certain that most college students change their major at least once. I've changed my major more than once! Just tell your parents, they probably expect you to change your major. When I told mine, every time I did it, they'd say, %26quot;Oh, well whatever you want.%26quot;
Which time?
Since you are a freshman, most of your hours should transfer to another major. Engineering and Law Enforcement are very different. College is a time to find yourself and try new things. If you want to change talk to your parents, hopefully they will understand.
They say to go with one's passion, and that is so true. %26quot;If you love what you do, you'll never have to work a day in your life%26quot; as that ol' adage goes (not sure who said it though ;) You're the one who has to get up each day and go to work for 8 or more hours daily, 40 or more hours a week for how many years so it's really your decision what to major in.
Perhaps you can take some law enforcement courses too and decide then if you would like to change your major. I don't believe that it's that difficult to change major except for certain ones such as business or education. Perhaps you can talk with a counselor at your college about the two majors and about the process of changing coursework. When talking to your parents, perhaps you can just say that you are thinking of taking a detour towards another field.
If wanting to read up on certain careers: http://www.bls.gov/oco and search 'police officer' and 'engineer'.
On the one hand, I do think it's important to follow your instincts. On the other hand, if you end up changing your mind again, I think you're going to find it difficult to get back on the engineering track. It might strike you as something that could be done as a hobby, but you need classes and academic credentials to succeed in that field. In order to become a police officer, you wouldn't even necessarily need a college education, though I'm sure it'll help you get higher pay and rank more quickly.
I would finish out the rest of the year in your engineering classes, and try and take a law enforcement class or two as electives (or over the summer if you can't manage it sooner). If you still feel the same way after you've gotten through more advanced concepts, then you can go to your parents and tell them with full confidence that you've given it your best shot and engineering's just not for you.
You don't actually have to declare your major until your Junior year. You can take your general education classes and a couple of lower division engineering and administration of justice classes and see which one stimulates you more. You never know, maybe another math or science class may be more interesting to you.
There's no rush to declare, that's why undeclared is an option. As long as your taking your general education requirements, your progressing towards your degree so don't stress.
