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I had this same feeling when I finished my junior year as an Electrical Engineering major. The truth is, I chose that major when I was barely 17 years old, and

I had this same feeling when I finished my junior year as an Electrical Engineering major. The truth is, I chose that major when I was barely 17 years old, and it was accidental. I chose my major from a drop-down list on a web application. I was going to choose Computer Science, but then I saw "Computer Engineering" and thought it sounded more impressive, so I chose that one. Little did I know how different the coursework was at the time. But I stuck with it until I was 21. Then something hit me. I didn't really enjoy my major at all. At UT-Austin, the "recommended" degree plan for EE only has 1 elective, no foreign language, and probably 8 classes on circuits. I couldn't help but feel like I had missed out on something, so I decided to take some extra time. So when I reached my senior year, I decided to drop all of my EE classes the next semester and signed up for all Philosophy classes. Took out a student loan and got a couple student jobs as a web developer, and took my time taking 6 hours a semester for the next 2 years. Ended up moving into a student co-op (an awesome experience), partied, met the girl who would become my wife, got 2 years of work experience, read a lot of philosophy books and novels, took a foreign language, learned to play guitar, and did everything else I had wanted to do. So that's how I ended up as an EE/Philosophy double major and took 6 years to graduate. Don't regret it at all.

amackera 17y ago
This is exactly what I want to do! just take a time out to try the things I'm interested to try. I have emailed my advisor to see if something like this is possible.
- aristoxenus 17y ago
  If you can find part-time employment on campus, you can work for a year and sit in on classes too. That way you can explore without the expense of making it official (most profs are cool with this). As long as you trust yourself not to slack off during that year.
cgs 17y ago
I had a somewhat similar experience. I'm pretty much freaked out my junior year, and almost dropped everything to get a music degree. But I stuck it out, got my CS degree, and landed a good job before graduating. After 1.5 years, I quit. I craved that exploration phase which I never felt I got in school. I spent a year setting up a music studio and teaching guitar lessons out of my apartment. I loved it. But I found my self truly missing hacking on things, and when I got back to it, I realized how much I had missed it. I don't regret my decisions at all. Don't worry so much about what you should do; just do SOMETHING. Good luck!
jeromegn 17y ago
Sounds like what I'm doing! Basically, taking more technically-inclined contracts as a web developer, even though I prefer the thinking and managing part of web development just so that I can pursue learning and enjoying life at my leisure.

amackera 17y ago

This is exactly what I want to do! just take a time out to try the things I'm interested to try. I have emailed my advisor to see if something like this is possible.

aristoxenus 17y ago
If you can find part-time employment on campus, you can work for a year and sit in on classes too. That way you can explore without the expense of making it official (most profs are cool with this). As long as you trust yourself not to slack off during that year.

cgs 17y ago

I had a somewhat similar experience. I'm pretty much freaked out my junior year, and almost dropped everything to get a music degree. But I stuck it out, got my CS degree, and landed a good job before graduating. After 1.5 years, I quit. I craved that exploration phase which I never felt I got in school. I spent a year setting up a music studio and teaching guitar lessons out of my apartment. I loved it. But I found my self truly missing hacking on things, and when I got back to it, I realized how much I had missed it. I don't regret my decisions at all. Don't worry so much about what you should do; just do SOMETHING. Good luck!

jeromegn 17y ago

Sounds like what I'm doing! Basically, taking more technically-inclined contracts as a web developer, even though I prefer the thinking and managing part of web development just so that I can pursue learning and enjoying life at my leisure.