Do you know anyone who's switched courses at Cam? Also, just out of curiosity, have you ever had a moment where you considered studying something else, or have you always been set on your subject? You don't have to give details because I know it would compromise your anonymity. Like I said, just curious!
1. Yes, I know 3 or 4 people who’ve switched. It definitely happens. Most of them have been natural switches (e.g. X started with Classics, figured out she doesn’t really understand Greek at all, switched to History) although I know a guy on my course who’s switched twice! Where he’s ended up is quiiiite different to what he started on (although each of his switches were not that weird).
2. I did actually for like 3 days right before second year started. There was this one paper within my course that I was super excited to take, I really wanted to do it and then go on to do my dissertation in that area. BUT when the paper list went online, that paper was not being offered last year. I was pretty unhappy bc that was a major draw of this course to me. So I emailed the professor and asked if he was going to be teaching it the year after, I wanted to dissertate in it, etc. He was great, I ended up helping him out with some research which taught me what I needed to do my dissertation in that area. So it all worked out in the end but yes, I definitely had that thought for a few days.
I think...maybe not most but quite a large % of people doubt their course choice at least once. It’s just...you get so into it, you forget what you liked about it in the first place, you know? But most people end up staying and I think they generally end up happy with that choice (I certainly did).