Maybe I'll Switch Majors?

I should switch my major. I'm just throwing this thought out there. I don't think it would actually happen in a milllion years. Perhaps I'm just discouraged this semester?

Let me back up. This semester sucks. Lets just have a really honest blog post, yeah? I'd appreciate comments at the end. Here it goes.

At the end of last semester, the end of my sophomore year, it was the routine time to apply for the professional program. (oh, critical piece of info...in case you didn't know...I'm a Biological Engineering major). Well. My academic advisor was kind enough to tell me that I couldn't get in. I had not taken all of the required classes to get into the program. "Few students have" she told me, as to not make me feel left behind. Well, it made me feel like crap. So, now I have to take all of the classes that I so conveniently skipped the last two years of my college education in order to be able to get into the professional program of Biological Engineering and continue me on the track of graduation.

There are no other classes that I should be taking at this time. ONLY the classes that I need to get into this program. So. That leaves me, this semester taking the following classes: Electrical Engineering for Non-Majors, Computer Engineering Drafting (AutoCAD, aka a 3D engineering design class), Dynamics, and English 2010. I absolutely DESPISE all of my classes.

I take that back.

I LOVE my English class. My teacher is great, and the entire semester is based around writing this research paper, and I'm writing it on all of the research that I did over the summer in Baltimore. The general IQ level in that class is pretty low (ask me about that some other time), there is hardly ever any homework if any, and the class usually gets out early. Yeah. Good class. But...I'm not an English major.

All my other classes are awful though.

The thing is this: I just don't know if I have a love for Engineering. (That's your cue to take a gasp if you haven't at some point already in this blog).

I have a love for science. But NOT engineering.

I hate physics.

Engineering is applied physics. Crap. Why the heck am I majoring in engineering then!? Beats me. That's why I chose Biological Engineering!!! I LOVE the biology part with ALL of my heart!! I really love all of the lab work that I do, and I love all of the research that I have done in the labs that I've been able to have experience in.

The part that troubles me is the requirements that the University places on Biological Engineers to get the stupid mechanical engineering emphasis all to pass the FE exam in order to graduate. If I don't want that particular backgroud in my education for my future career, then why do I need to take those courses?! I simply do NOT understand.

If I were to switch my major to something else, I fear that I would lose the parts of Biological Engineering that I so deeply love. All I want to do is get rid of the physics aspect, however I feel like I am asking for the impossible.

Even after this semester is over, I have two and a half years until I graduate, so switching my major wouldn't make that big of a difference. I have most of my generals done, so really any switch would add on about one semester to my schooling.

I suppose at this point, I should make a pros and cons list:


Why I should NOT swith majors:

1) I've already done 2 years (will be 2.5 soon) of Biological Engineering, and I have a pretty good base built up in it of knowledge, friends (study groups), and professors.

2) I will be accepted into the Biological Engineering Program after the end of this semester.

3) I would lose my job. You have to be a declared Biological Engineering major to work in my lab.

4) I think like an Engineer. Whether that came naturally, or they (meaning my profesors) have taught me how over the last two years... I'm not sure, but regardless, I do.

5) It would be kind of embarrassing at this point to have to tell everyone that I switched majors. You know...it would be like an identity crisis.

6) I would have to start a whole bunch of new classes with (hold your breath) FRESHMEN

7) I have no idea what major I would actually switch to.

8) I should learn to be persistent and do hard things

9) No one wants to be in school for forever. I would be nice to just get a degree. I'm half way done. I should just finish and get it. Maybe the second half will be better.

10) The obvious money issue with staying in school longer.


Why I SHOULD switch majors:

1) I think I would be happier...

2) I hate physics, and the FE requirements are retarded.

3) I'm having a really hard time in some of my Engineering classes as of late

4) Maybe a job as a teacher? or something would be a more practical career with a family????

5) Maybe I could actually understand my homework for once, and then get an A on a test. I don't remember exactly the last time I got an A on a test. (Keep in mind...getting an A on a test is defferent from getting an A in a class...usually teachers have to curve the points because the tests are so freakin hard). You might think this is an exaggeration, but I've serioulsy walked out of class a couple times in the last month almost in tears. I would have been in tears if I wasn't in the male-infested Engineering building.

6) I no longer feel like Engineering is my passion. I like it. I know what it's about. I think a little part of me is really giddy about it...but it's not my absolute passion. I'm not one of those people who can spend all night (and I literally mean ALL NIGHT...it's open later than the library for a reason...engineers need the extra hours) every night at the engineering building doing their homework. I honestly don't think that it's because I'm a lazy student. It's because I don't find a passion in the crappy physics. I need to find my true passion.

7) If I had a hard time with the first half, who's to say what will be thrown in my face the second half? Granted, great classes could be coming my way...but at the saem time... they could be terribly awful also.

8) I'm not sure how long it would take me to find a job. I don't want just some random job doing whatever. I want a research job! Esp. with the research experience I have a Johns Hopkins and everything, I feel like I could be a valuable lab worker somewhere here at USU. If I get onto work study they MIGHT keep me at the lab I work in right now, but I don't think my boss would be too happy with me...


Okay, well that's all I can think of right now. Knowing me, I probably missed some big, super, critical point, but regardless, I think you get the jist of what has been going on in my head for the last long while.

Please give me your advice if you have any! If not, I'm glad that I could just write about my troubles and that you got to read them. I came to no conclusions myself writing the blog post. I'll just continue sitting in misery staring at some circuits that I don't understand because supposedly I have to know them for the FE exam so that I can be a real engineer someday.