Background

Our topic for the Comprehensive Project is the number of time a college student changes their major before graduating.

     During our research we found 50 percent of students that declare a major change major it two and three times during their college years. Eighty percent of college students have not picked a major. (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10154383/ns/business-personal_finance/t/college-freshmen-face-major-dilemma/#.UWgCPJHOI6o). A different study agrees that 80% of college students don't enter with a declared major. Although, this site states the level changed major is higher at 70% and the average times the major is changed three times. (http://www.masonmetu.com/leap/will-your-child-switch-majors-3-times-like-the-average-college-student-potentially-costing-you-thousands-who-s-at-risk-and-what-s-the-remedy-). The northwestern loan association claims two-thirds (66%) of all college freshmen do not have a major which is between the two other stated values. One major change occurs 55 percent to 60 percent during a student’s college career (http://www.nela.net/Centers/pages/collegemajors.aspx). According to college parent 80% of students change their major at least once, and on average students change their major 3 times. College parent says a study conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers 66% of students pick their major based on they are interested, 12% just have a change of heart, 9% are inspired by a teacher, 7%change their major for potential financial gains, and 6% have been influenced by friends and family for the change. (http://www.collegeparents.org/members/resources/articles/when-your-college-student-changes-majors)

     In the research we found it isn’t always easy to change your major. Different universities have different policies and ways for changing your major. Depending on the procedures that may affect a student’s decision whether to change their major or not. (http://onestop.umn.edu/degree_planning/changing_college_or_major/) While researching our topic we discovered a related study that was on GPA of engineering students and major change. For example college students with GPA’s less than 2.5 are more likely to switch to a business major and higher GPA’s usually switch to physical science. (http://fie-conference.org/fie2004/papers/1478.pdf )