Changing alleyways in the realm of academia

At the dawn of adulthood, one of the most impactful decisions for most teenagers is choosing their majors. However, for many BracU students, the undergraduate journey is not linear. What may start as a search for status or security transforms into something else – the brave journey of changing majors.

Often, it starts from growing out of the major you chose. Umar Zawad Naqvi (Junior, CSE), who switched from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), stated that his interest in EEE slowly waned as the initial few semesters passed. He stated, “The fear of falling behind was there, but it was outweighed by a bigger fear – ending up in a field that I actually did not want to be in. ” Likewise, Udvash Saha (Junior, BBS) took the big leap from CSE after 6 semesters. Despite having a decent academic result, he refused to carry the burden of an uncertain future. “And yes, I feel like I took the right step forward, ” Udvash said.

But this transition is not always smooth; sometimes it is tough on students. For Abrar Tajwar (Sophomore, Economics), who shifted from the BBA department, the process was tiresome. He had a marathon run through the offices to secure signatures and complete requirements. Abdullah Ansari (Junior, Biotechnology) also shared a similar experience. But he had a sigh of relief at the end. “Being at peace by losing 1 year or more in the process is better than having to look back and contemplate what could have been if I did things differently,” Abdullah said. 

At the end of the day, these students realise that academic journeys should not work as a shackle but as a source of enlightenment in life. The advice for students who are in a dilemma is not to be deceived for the rest of their lives by a wrong investment of 4 years.