BILL ROLFES: CHANGE YOU MAJOR, BUT DO IT SOON

by Bill Rolfes

When I started college three years ago, I had dreams of becoming some kind of doctor. I was going to be a heart surgeon or an orthopedist, whichever one would allow me to do the most surgery. I wanted to cut people open and save lives.

My plans have changed since then.

I started college as a biology major, thinking I would come in and wipe the floor with every test because I had done so well in my high school anatomy and physiology class.

After taking my first college biology test I realized that I wasn't even minutely as smart as I had thought I was (when it comes to biology).

I stayed in biology for three semesters, all the time doubting my aspirations of going to medical school.

My third semester I decided to start a minor in English so my records would show some kind of diversity. People had told me that to get into medical school I needed to make myself look different and special.

Well, that semester the only class I concentrated on was my English class. By the time November rolled around I was absolutely positive that I wasn't cut out for medical school and I would be much happier studying English. I was happy with this revelation, but it did pose somewhat of a problem. The semester was well over halfway finished and I wouldn't get a dime of my money back if I dropped all of my science classes.

Since I didn't care about those classes I came very near to failing them. My grades that semester ended up taking a nice sized chunk out of my GPA. I wish I would have tried to drop my classes and not worried about the money.

A friend of mine took the wise route and dropped his science classes before he hurt his GPA. This also gave him the opportunity to take two or three months off school before starting business administration classes in January.

Now, I don't mean to be giving biology a bad rap or anything. Biology is a tough major, and clearly I couldn't handle it because I just wasn't interested in the subject.

My point is that if anyone decides to change majors, you should get out as soon as possible. The semester will be miserable if you keep taking classes that you don't like or need.

And don't be afraid to change majors, you'll be happier in the long run.

Changing my major was the best decision I have made in college, next to deciding to work for The Current.