Before you change your major because of bad grades, read this

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Hi there. I am the prolific professor with 15 years of experience teaching online and in-person. I have a graduate degree. I have a passion for education. But I’ve also worked in the professional world (outside of education) too. Thanks for visiting.

Should you switch majors because you are failing your classes?

Before you go any further on your academic journey, you need to read this!

You don’t want to regret your decision and make some of these biggest mistake I outlined here.

You are probably here because you are worried about your future. And you might be making bad grades in your classes. And you are panicked because these are your classes within your very own major.

You’re wondering how you could possibly make it in this career later in life if you can’t even pass your classes in college.

Is it even worth it to continue in your major if you aren’t passing your classes or making good grades?

I have something to tell you. I was a professor for 15 years, and I even have professional experience in my field so I am going to tell you some secrets before you put too much pressure on yourself.

Sure, this whole college thing might not be for everyone, or you really should consider switching your major, but I think you need to read this before you decide.

What to do if you’re making bad grades in your major classes?

Okay, you are either making bad grades, failing, or struggling to keep up in your classes that deal directly with your major.

Look, I understand. I have struggled too. And in my 15 years of experience, I saw plenty of students struggle in their classes. I know it can be concerning, especially if this is your career choice.

You may not care as much if you can’t pass your math course, at least if you’ll never use it again. But when you can’t nail a biology course and you want to pursue a career in that field, it can be a bummer.

But I caution you to think before you switch majors because you aren’t doing as well as you’d hope.

So, before you switch, consider these things first. Go through every one of them, and make sure you’re looking at all angles before making a rash decision.

Are you failing or just making bad grades?

Consider your grades before you switch majors because it could be a fluke. And you might recover. If you are making bad grades, but not actually failing, it is quite possible that you’ll end up improving over time.

So, don’t fret too much if you are at least passing your classes but not making stellar grades. But you should at least be concerned about your future career. Some employers will require you to show transcripts and they might scrutinize your grades so don’t lower your expectations.

Pay close attention to your overall G.P.A. and make sure that you will have the required grades to get a diploma and that employers aren’t looking for a minimum G.P.A. from their candidates.

Are you putting all your effort into the class?

If you are going to class, studying the recommend time for the course, completing all assignments and really putting effort into the course, and you are still making bad grades, you need to look more into the reason why this is happening.

But oftentimes, students don’t do well in courses because they aren’t spending enough time on their studies.

Make sure you think about how much effort you are really putting into the course, and make changes if necessary. Don’t expect college to be easy. You should really consider worker harder to get better grades.

Are you doing bad in all your classes, or just one?

If you are doing bad in all your classes, then maybe college is more difficult for you. Or you aren’t really applying yourself. Make sure you know if it’s just hard for you, or you aren’t dedicating enough time to college.

But if it’s just one class, or one professor that is making this material so much more challenging then it might just be a one time thing. And it doesn’t signal that it’s time to change your major.

Otherwise, it can be completely normal to struggle in college sometimes. But get the help you need to get better.

But if it’s a struggle all the time, and you have worked hard, you should start to have conversations with your professors and advisors to see what you can do to improve.

Will you actually use this in your career?

If you are struggling in a math class, but your major is criminal justice, you probably won’t need to really use that information in your career.

But if you are struggling in your criminal justice classes, and you will need that information to succeed within a career, you should be concerned.

Sometimes a college degree is more of a formality. You need to get the diploma to get a job, but you never really use the information you learned in your classes, at least not directly.

If you think that describes your career and your major, then I wouldn’t be too worried about switching majors. As long as you get the grades you need to pass and be competitive in your field later.

But if you need to really grasp the material, and know it for later, and you aren’t doing good in your classes, you need to figure it out.

Usually college helps you learn general skills, and you will learn more specific job skills from your employer.

How are your classmates doing?

If all the other classmates are doing awesome in the course, with the exception of a few students, and you can’t keep up, then it might be something you should think about for awhile.

Why are you not doing as well as everyone else? Is it something about the way you are studying and is there anything you can improve.

If everyone else in the class is struggling and you find that most students have trouble with the material, it could just be a difficult class or professor. And sometimes it is the content. Some classes are just harder than others.

And it might not mean that you will struggle in your career later. Or even struggle in other similar classes. You’ll just have to make it through this class and find a way.

What has your professor said?

Before you make any decisions about bailing on a major and switching or dropping out of college, you need to have a sit down with your professors. Don’t fret about talking to them about your concerns.

You need to ask them for advice and seek help. They know a lot about the field and careers within that field, and they can help you understand the grades and information necessary to succeed.

So, reach out and don’t be afraid to talk to them about something that is life changing. You wouldn’t want to regret your decision.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Should I change my major if I fail a class?

  Failing one class isn’t the only reason to change your major. You could still do relatively well on the remaining classes. You need to consider why you failed the class first. Bad grades shouldn’t be the only reason why you change majors.

• Do grades matter when I switch my major?

  Sometimes colleges will require you to meet some academic standards before changing your college major. The program you want to change to might require a certain G.P.A. and could be more selective. So, yes, grades may impact your ability to change majors at some institutions.

• Am I too dumb for a college major?

  I don’t think anyone is too dumb for a major because I believe that college students can overcome most obstacles with the right approach like tutoring, more studying and dedication. So anything is possible.

After reading my guide on switching majors, you should be closer to making a sound decision. I know college can be tough, but there could be ways around bad grades. Take your time to think hard about your circumstances before you change majors.

You got this.

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