• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Life / I Absolutely Hated My First Major, So I Had to Get Out of It

I Absolutely Hated My First Major, So I Had to Get Out of It

October 17, 2018 //  by Jess Badinghaus

Shares39FacebookTweet

We’ve all been there: the moment in your high school guidance counselor’s room when he or she pops the dreaded question, “What do you plan to major in?” Then and there your heart drops because how the hell is an 18-year-old who doesn’t even know what she is doing this weekend supposed to know what she wants to do for the rest of her life?

Maybe you are one of the lucky ones who knew since the age of four what your dream job entails, but that was just not the case for me. When my guidance counselor dropped the big question, I had no clue how to respond.

She advised me to go into college undecided so I could explore major options.

Taking her advice, I spent my freshman year taking gen eds, none of which really impressed me. I reached the middle of my second semester freshman year not knowing anymore than before what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. All I knew is that I enjoyed drawing, writing and being creative. I told this to my advisor who lectured me through the super competitive, intense design program. I walked out of that meeting more stressed than I was before I walked in.

I thought for a few more weeks and on a whim decided to take the writing path and major in journalism. I enjoy writing. What could go wrong?

Well, two days deep in my journalism course I was freaking out. I hated everything we were doing. I did not like the fact that I had to keep up with the news and politics, stay active on Twitter and interview random people on campus. I don’t know the first thing about politics and with all the sh–t going on right now, I could never keep up. Ultimately, I knew this was not the right path for me.

I was a planner-freak, supposedly super organized sophomore with a major she hates. It was my worst nightmare. I once again trudged to the advisor’s office for an express appointment. I vented to them how I hated journalism, but I love writing.

The advisor offered up a major in the communications school. I decided it didn’t hurt to try at this point. All the communication courses seemed to be up my alley and interesting enough. Entering my second semester sophomore year, I felt relieved to tell people I officially declared a major. But the question still lingered if I would actually enjoy it.

There was no big a-ha moment that strategic communications was my perfect major, but it just felt right. The fact that I was enjoying my classes and wanting to learn more was a reassuring feeling. I finally felt like I had found my place at college. The major allowed me to improve my writing skills while expressing my creativity.

Now as a junior, I have no set career path I want to take. This is not a scary thought though because strategic communications has given me experience in multiple fields. I feel confident that I can succeed in any social media, writing or editing position. I hope to find a job that allows me to be creative and impact people around me.

For those of you who have not found the perfect major, please do not worry. Try to figure out what you like to do and go from there. There is no rush despite everyone making you think you have to know exactly what you want to do at the young age of 18. Take your time, talk to you advisors and don’t stress. I promise you will find it, even if it takes a few years.

Shares39FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Academics Life Writers

About Jess Badinghaus

Jess is a student at Ohio State University studying Strategic Communications, minoring in Design Thinking and Professional Writing. When she isn't editing or writing, she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family and watching movies.

You May Also Like

songs to belt out

21 Songs to Belt Out in the Shower

Top 10 Weird Scholarships You Can’t Miss

cultural identity and language

Language Abilities Don’t Define Your Cultural Identity, Unless?

How I Turned My Personal Journals into a Published Book

15 Alcohol-Free Activities for a Friday Night In

Reflecting on Fall 2020: How to Recover from One of the Hardest Semesters

How to Make Money From Home Without Taking Off Your PJs

15 COVID-19 Safe Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in 2020

Top 10 COVID-19 Safe Activities to Do Near Fresno, California

Breaking the Binary: My Journey into Identifying as Non-Binary

The Döner Project: My Berlin Budget as a College Student

CM’s Guide to the Print and Digital Journalism Major

Away from Home and Feeling Gross: Being Sick My Freshman Year

A Tale of Two Twin Flames

movies to binge over winter break

Battling Boredom: 10 Movies to Binge Over Winter Break

Being an Asian-American: Learning to Accept Both Halves of Myself

How to Become a Published Poet

ADHD or the Enemy? At Least My College Helped Me

berkeley outdoors

10 COVID-19 Friendly Things to Do in Berkeley, California

Top 10 DIY Gifts for Your BFF

Christmas

10 Gifts For Parents That They Want But Haven’t Asked For

friend group dressed up as Big Hero Six characters

Animation Nerds Unite: 10 Gifts for Animation Lovers

gifts for your girl squad

10 Gifts Your Girl Squad Can’t Live Without

10 Virtual Gifts for Your BFF that Will Make Them Love You Forever

Previous Post: « Do We Need Safe Spaces in Schools?
Next Post: My High School Over-Prepared Me for College »

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

102

10 St. John’s University Finals Activities to Help You De-Stress

mental health
95

Pandemic and Academic Blues: Being Aware of Your Mental Health

68

Top 10 Colleges With the Most Fashionable Students

31

A Gator’s Bucket-List: 21 Things to Do Before Graduating From UF

Broadway
26

10 Musical Soundtracks to Make Study Sessions That Much Easier

Featured Chapter: St. John’s University

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.