Customize Your Weekly Pathways Content Coming into UMass as a Psychology major, I genuinely thought I had my path figured out. I took AP Psych in high school, loved it, and pictured myself doing something in that field long-term. The conversations we had in class fascinated me, but part of me always wished we could dive deeper into the topics. That curiosity pushed me toward psychology at UMass, and I came here confident about that choice.
But once I started my psych courses during my first semester, I noticed something had changed. They were interesting, yes, but I didn’t feel as fulfilled or excited as I expected to. It’s nerve-racking when you’ve convinced yourself you know what you want, only to find out you were wrong. I’m someone who doesn’t love uncertainty, so the thought of switching majors felt intimidating, like I’d be stepping into the unknown with no guidance. When it came time to choose classes for spring semester, I remember scrolling through the psych course list and feeling…nothing. I’ve always had an interest in the law, so I decided to look at the Legal Studies catalogue. The eagerness and excitement I once had for psych had now been for the courses I was reading about.
The courses descriptions made me curious, so I took the jump and switched my major to Legal Studies. Right away, I felt the difference. I was engaged again – raising my hand more, staying after class with questions, connecting real cases to classroom concepts. But as much as I loved what I was studying, I realized that law often focuses on structures, doctrine, and institutions. I kept thinking about the people within those systems and how both law and society shape each other. That’s where Sociology came in. It felt like the missing half of the conversation I wanted to be part of. With both of these majors I knew I would feel content in my academic journey, so instead of choosing one over the other, I decided to double major.
The process wasn’t as scary as I imagined. I met with advisors, asked about credit requirements, checked my Academic Requirements Report on Spire (after staring at it confused for longer than I’d like to admit), and built out semester plans. Once I knew that double majoring was possible without graduating late, I felt excited to map out my course load. If you’re thinking about doing the same, start with an advising appointment. Bring all your questions, even the ones you think are dumb. They’re not. Advisors helped me figure out what counted for which major, how many upper-level courses I’d need, and how to balance both.
If you’re on the fence about double majoring, consider what sparks excitement for you. If two areas call to you, you don’t have to choose one and abandon the other, you can explore them both. Start small: browse course lists, talk to students in those majors, meet with advisors, and check if your credits align. Sometimes the academic path you’re meant for is the one you weren’t expecting when you first walked in here
