There are several considerations to weigh while deciding on a college major. For some people, deciding to pursue a certain field of study might be challenging. Others believe that making a pick amongst a variety of equally fascinating majors is the most difficult. But, for some students, the hardest decision of all is picking a major that will both challenge and excite them.
Moreover, some individuals feel that the most academically demanding college majors are also the ones with the fewest career opportunities following graduation, while others hold the opposite view. Still, it all boils down to what a student is looking for when choosing a major they will take in college.
Students have a vast range of college majors to choose from, and each one has its own unique set of challenges. Besides, they have unique skills and weaknesses, so what could be difficult for one student might be easy for another. And although not all college degrees are equally challenging, some are thought to be the hardest major than others, and this should be kept in mind by students like you when selecting a major.
So what, then, are the hardest college majors? In this article, we have listed the hardest college majors known to students in no particular order, so you will know what major you should either take or not consider.
Engineering
There is no doubt that one of the hardest undergraduate majors is engineering. It takes a significant amount of effort, commitment, and devoted study time. Engineering is a vast field, which is one of its challenges.
With so many different subfields in engineering, each one demands a particular set of skills. The ability to master a range of skills is a must for engineering students who want to excel in the field. Mathematical, scientific, and analytical prowess are requirements for students.
They must also be able to interact and communicate with others effectively. With the diverse variety of required skills, engineering is one of the most challenging undergraduate degrees.
Another factor adding to its complexity is the fact that engineering is a very practical discipline. A classroom is not the only place where you can educate students about engineering. They are required to go outside and labor in the mud. In addition to assignments, students must conduct research. An engineer needs this hands-on experience to be successful. On the other hand, it may also be quite a time- and labor-intensive.
Caddell Prep CEO Glyn Caddell earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from NJIT.
Physics
Physics is another college major that students find the hardest to take, and it’s understandable that so many students find it difficult to excel in this field, given the challenging concepts and tricky math problems.
Physics has several challenging elements, math being one of them. To fully grasp the concepts, you’ll need to be an expert in challenging mathematics, such as calculus and physics-related equations. Furthermore, you need to be able to use these equations in real-world scenarios.
Physics is also tricky because of the sheer volume of information you need to comprehend. Physics is a broad science branch covering a broad spectrum, from mechanics to electricity and magnetism. You will thus need a solid understanding of various concepts to succeed. This could seem not very comforting to students who aren’t used to focusing on a specific area of their studies.
Lastly, physics has a tendency to be a conceptual discipline. You’ll learn about a lot of ideas that are tough to visualize, and many of them are invisible to the naked eye. As a result, it could be challenging to fully comprehend how they operate and how they relate to the outside world.
Chemistry
Chemistry is known to be one of the hardest college majors. Many college students who declare chemistry as their major immediately come to grips with their lack of preparation. The homework is complex, and the subject matter is somewhat dry and difficult to understand. Nonetheless, for those who are persistent, studying chemistry is a gratifying endeavor.
The fact that chemistry is a relatively abstract discipline is one of the key factors contributing to its difficulty. Chemistry deals with unseen particles that we can only indirectly perceive, in contrast to courses like biology or physics which deal with physical objects that we can see and touch. Because of this, the subject matter may be challenging to understand, and many students may give up in frustration.
Another reason that makes chemistry difficult is the substantial memorization needs. It may be difficult for students to memorize the numerous chemical components and formulae. Without actually comprehending what they are learning, students sometimes strive to memorize everything, which can cause confusion and more aggravation.
Biology
Following on the list of the hardest college majors is biology since it demands more time and effort from students in order to grasp the complexity of the natural world fully.
The fact that biology is so vast and diverse is one of the things that makes it such a challenging subject. There are millions of species on Earth, and every one of them is different in some way. Students who want to become biologists need to be able to focus on the details of distinct species while also being able to grasp the fundamental principles that all living things share.
Another reason biology is so difficult is because of how quickly the natural world changes. As new discoveries are always made in the field of biology, a skilled biologist must be able to keep up with the most recent studies.
Nursing
Perhaps one of the hardest college degrees out there is nursing. Nursing students have their work cut out for them because of the challenging academic requirements of the curriculum and the clinical rotations.
The academic requirements for nursing students are extensive. With training in anatomy and physiology, they must also take nursing theory and healthcare policy classes. Also, they must complete clinical rotations to get practical experience. A schedule that takes all of this into account is challenging.
Speaking of, a nursing student’s coursework must include clinical rotations. They may, however, be quite demanding. Nursing students require long shifts on their feet and frequently treat patients with severe conditions. Along with being physically taxing, this may also be intellectually and emotionally tiring.
Medicine
Another one of the most challenging majors a college student may select is medicine. It takes a tremendous deal of knowledge and skill to thrive in the field of medicine since a mistake might have fatal consequences, and learning happens at a breakneck speed. It’s simple to understand why so many students struggle when considering the added strain of knowing that lives are on the line.
The workload and rigorous curriculum required of medical students must be tolerated. In addition to their regular curriculum, they must complete clinical rotations, which may be very strenuous. In addition to all of this, they must prepare for and ace the MCAT, a difficult test necessary for entrance to medical school.
Due to the overwhelming amount of work, it can be challenging for students to reconcile their personal and academic life. This is one of the most significant difficulties in the medical field, which is why a lot of students decide to drop out or change their major.
Law
It is common knowledge that law is, indeed, one of the hardest college majors out there. A law student must be able to absorb and comprehend voluminous volumes of material as well as exercise critical thinking and solve challenging problems. Excellent writing and research abilities are also necessary for law school.
One of the things making law a significant challenge is the amount of reading required. Many law students have to study hundreds of pages each week, which makes it challenging to stay up late. In addition to their regular homework, law students also need to be able to comprehend and analyze complex legal theories and concepts.
The content itself is frequently reasonably complicated. Even if you think you grasp the fundamentals of the law, it may not be easy to put such understandings into action in real-world situations. Recalling all relevant legislation and case law is likewise challenging.
Exam performance pressure is also relatively high. Exams are sometimes the only opportunity to advance in the highly competitive area of law. It may be challenging to handle the tension and strain resulting from this.
Astronomy
Why is astronomy one of the most challenging college majors? It can be that the preponderance of the notions are theoretical and hard to comprehend without a lot of critical thought. The topics in math are frequently more complex than those in other degrees; therefore, that could be another reason.
Every student who decides to pursue astronomy as a subject should be ready for a rigorous academic path, regardless of their motivation. To even contemplate it, one must be enthusiastic about the universe and the stars., but it takes a lot of effort even then.
Astronomy’s intricacy is influenced by the field’s breadth. Its vastness is terrifying, but so is the grandeur of the universe’s history. Astronomers have to contend with ideas like the antiquity of the cosmos and the speed of light that are challenging for the human mind to comprehend. With that, advanced expertise in physics and mathematics is required.
Architecture
Architecture is consistently ranked as one of the hardest college majors, and it is regarded as such for a variety of reasons. The curriculum is really challenging to start. To design cutting-edge and practical structures, students need to be able to think critically and creatively. They must also be able to work individually and together to execute their concepts.
In connection with that, a great deal of inventiveness is needed in architecture. It isn’t easy to create fresh designs that satisfy customers’ or companies’ expectations, and it frequently requires several iterations. This learning method by trial and error may be disheartening to some students.
Lastly, there’s a lot of competition in the program. Together with being outstanding in what they do, students need to be able to differentiate themselves from their contemporaries. And lastly, the work is challenging, requiring them to handle long hours and high levels of stress.
Which college major is the hardest? This is actually a question that lacks a clear-cut answer. Whatever sparks each student’s interest, as well as their unique skills and limits, will be the deciding factor. Even if certain degrees may provide higher academic hurdles than others, that doesn’t always mean that they are the hardest to earn.
With that being said, your first consideration while choosing a college major should be what you are passionate about. Even though it’s challenging, if you’re enthusiastic about your major, you’ll be more likely to succeed. If your major doesn’t excite you, it will be tough for you to stay motivated to complete the essential work.
