Most college students change their major at least once during their college career. And you probably know some people who've extended their four-year stay in school to five or maybe six years because they couldn't settle on a major.
There's definitely nothing wrong with switching your major 
—but if you can do some upfront exploring in your chosen field, you might save yourself some time and the expense of additional semesters in college.
One good way to help ensure you're in the right major is to observe a professional in your field. A few weeks ago, I mentioned that my stepdaughter was planning to job shadow in the field she's considering (occupational therapy). I thought I'd share a little bit about what she learned:
- 1) The job is interesting. This is BIG. You may be good at a job, and you may make a lot of money at a job—but if you don't find the work interesting, you probably won't be happy for long. I'm glad to report that my stepdaughter liked what she saw.
- The salary range has given her pause. She researched this ahead of time, but her day "on the job" made her think about it more closely. She's not sure the salary potential is enough to satisfy her. Another excellent thing to start thinking about early on (especially if you'll have student loans to repay).
- Paperwork and repetition are part of the job. Along with some excitement about her chosen field, she also got a good dose of reality. She saw that it wasn't just about working with patients—there was a lot of paperwork involved as well. And she noticed that they went through the same routine with many patients. I'm glad she got to observe that. It's good to know the potential downsides of any job you're considering.
- She wants a closer look. After her job-shadowing day, she thinks she'd enjoy occupational therapy, but her experience prompted us to talk about different options she has within the field. It's made her want to take a closer look—maybe shadow another occupational therapist in a different setting.
All in all, her job-shadowing experience helped my stepdaughter confirm that she was pursuing the right career path. And if it didn't? Well, if you're in the wrong major, it's better to know sooner than later.
Have you switched your major? Is it prolonging your college career?
I'm really glad I found this article..
I'm a junior in highschool and I'm considering occupational therapy as a major. The other day my mom suggested that I should find a local OT and shadow them for day. This article confirmed that this is a good idea.
I'm just a little apprehensive because I don't really know how to go about this.. How do I find an OT willing to do this? And, when I do find someone what exactly will I be doing.. trailing behind them all day long?
Hi Nicole -- thanks for your question. You've come to the right place -- not only did my stepdaughter job shadow an OT, I actually did it myself when I was considering a career change a few years back. I can tell you a little about my experience, and give you some advice.
There are a couple ways to go about finding an OT to shadow. I was in a hurry, so I picked up the phone book and started dialing hospitals and clinics and asking for their Occupational Therapy Departments. I left a lot of voicemails describing who I was, and what I wanted to do. I finally was able to arrange a job shadowing day at our county medical center.
Because time is on your side, you may want to take a more personal approach, rather than just cold-calling from the phone book. Talk to your high school guidance counselor, who may be able to help you make some connections. Do you know anyone in the medical field? Your friends' parents? Your parents' friends? Ask around and let them know you're interesting in job-shadowing an OT, they also may be able to help you make some arrangements.
Rather than plan on an entire day of job-shadowing, you may want to just do a half-day. You'll still see plenty, and it's more likely an OT would be able to work you into his or her schedule.
As for what you'll do -- yes, you'll follow the OT around. Likely, you'll watch the OT interact with patients. You'll be probably be introduced to the patients, and may get to do some interacting, depending on the circumstances. You'll probably have some time to visit with the OT about different aspects of the job in between patients.
You're smart to explore your career options while you're still in high school. Just a couple quick tips to make the most of your experience (you probably already know this, but just in case) -- dress nicely, like you're going to job interview. You'll want to look really professional in front of the OT and the patients. Be prepared with some questions for the OT, so when you get a chance, you won't be at a loss about what to ask.
Good luck, let us know how it goes!