When San Francisco Radar surveyed 1,097 students across universities and colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area, the results were striking.
Only 22% said they like their major.
Meanwhile 64% said they are actively considering changing it, and 14% said they are unsure.
Those numbers reveal a quiet crisis on campuses: students questioning whether they chose the right path.
While regret exists in many fields, conversations with students and national higher-education trends point to several majors that frequently show up on the “I wish I had chosen something else” list.
Here are five that students say they struggle with the most.
1. Computer Science
In the Bay Area, computer science often feels less like a choice and more like an expectation.
With the influence of Silicon Valley, many students enter college believing tech is the most practical or lucrative path. But once classes begin, reality sets in.
The workload can be intense. Competition is fierce. And not everyone enjoys spending hours debugging code.
“A lot of students choose computer science for the paycheck, not the passion.”
Some discover too late that they enjoy technology as users, not as programmers.
2. Business Administration
Business is one of the most popular majors nationwide, but it’s also one many students later question.
The issue isn’t difficulty — it’s direction.
Students often say the major feels too broad. Without a specialization like finance, marketing, or accounting, some graduates worry they lack clear career skills.
“Students often choose business because it feels safe — but safe doesn’t always mean fulfilling.”
Many end up wishing they had pursued a more specialized field.
3. Biology (Pre-Med Track)
Biology attracts students who dream of becoming doctors. But the path to medical school is long and extremely competitive.
Along the way, some students discover they no longer want to pursue medicine — yet they’re left with a degree that can feel limiting without additional graduate study.
That realization can arrive halfway through college.
“The moment many students regret biology is when they realize they don’t actually want to go to medical school.”
4. Communications
Communications sounds appealing on paper. It promises careers in media, marketing, public relations, and storytelling.
But students often discover the field is highly competitive after graduation.
Without internships, networking, and practical experience, some graduates struggle to stand out in the job market.
“The degree alone isn’t the problem — it’s that students often underestimate how much real-world experience matters.”
5. Psychology
Psychology is fascinating and widely popular among students.
But many are surprised to learn that most psychology careers require graduate school.
Students who enter the major expecting immediate job opportunities sometimes feel misled when they discover that a bachelor’s degree alone may not open many doors.
“Psychology sparks curiosity — but careers in the field usually require years of additional training.”
Why So Many Students Change Their Minds
Regret doesn’t necessarily mean students made a mistake.
It often means they’re learning more about themselves.
Many students pick majors before they’ve had a chance to explore their interests fully. Once they experience new subjects, internships, or mentors, their priorities shift.
Other common reasons students reconsider their major include:
- Job market concerns
- Burnout from heavy coursework
- Pressure from family expectations
- Discovering new interests
The Good News
Changing majors is actually very common.
Research shows a large share of college students switch their academic focus at least once.
And that may be a healthy sign.
“College should be a place where students discover what they want to do — not just lock in a decision they made at 18.”
The real lesson from the San Francisco Radar poll isn’t that students are failing.
It’s that the system may need to give them more room to explore before asking them to commit to a lifelong career path.
