When students arrive at St. Ambrose University, many believe they already know exactly what they want to do. But for some, college becomes less about following a set plan and more about discovering where their goals and passions truly align.
Changing majors at SAU
For Jaxon Eisenbarth ‘27, that realization came after stepping into a classroom as a future teacher.
“I came to St. Ambrose University majoring in secondary education,” Eisenbarth said. “I was thinking about teaching either history or English.”
Eisenbarth was already gaining classroom experience and teaching lessons at Davenport Central High School during his first-year at SAU. But while working through the education program, he began to recognize that another path felt like a better fit for his future.
Instead of feeling stuck, Eisenbarth turned to campus resources for guidance.
“I went and talked with my advisor in the Academic and Career Planning Center, and they helped me switch over to business,” he said. “By my sophomore year, I was a business major.”
The transition opened new doors almost immediately. Eisenbarth said changing majors introduced him to new faculty mentors, internship opportunities, and experiences that helped shape his career goals.
“Since then, I have been blessed to meet great new faculty, acquire internships, and get a head start on my future career endeavors,” he said.
Delbert Ipilinga ‘29 experienced a similar shift after arriving at St. Ambrose as a political science major.
“I originally came to SAU as a political science major,” Ipilinga said. “During my first semester, I was mainly taking general education courses along with an introductory political science class.”
As the semester progressed, Ipilinga realized his interests were beginning to move in another direction. Wanting clarity about what came next, he connected with the Academic and Career Planning Center to explore his options.
“I worked specifically with Laurie Harrison, assistant director of the Academic and Career Planning Center, who was also my NSS instructor at the time,” Ipilinga said. “She helped guide me through the process of switching my major and discussing possible pathways that fit my interests better.”
Through those conversations, Ipilinga discovered an interest in engineering and transitioned into the program with support from advisors and faculty.
“The process was very smooth, and the support from the center made it straightforward to make the change,” he said.
Now majoring in mechanical engineering and planning to double major in data science, Ipilinga said the experience showed him that changing direction in college can lead students closer to the careers they truly want.
The path from undecided major to double-major
Not every student begins college with a major in mind. For Mallory Zeman ‘29, uncertainty about her future was part of what drew her to St. Ambrose in the first place.
“As an undecided student, what attracted me to St. Ambrose is that it’s a liberal arts university,” Zeman said. “I was able to take courses from all different majors and studies to figure out what I wanted to do.”
Instead of rushing to make a decision, Zeman used campus resources to explore what interested her most. Conversations with the Academic and Career Planning Center helped her reflect on the subjects she enjoyed and the direction she wanted to pursue.
“To declare my major, I visited the Academic and Career Planning Center to talk about what classes I was enjoying and which classes I wasn’t,” she said. “I felt supported by all of the people here. My professors really helped me through that journey.”
That process eventually led Zeman to majors in psychology and theology.
Discover or switch majors with academic support resources
For Eisenbarth, Ipilinga, and Zeman, their stories may have started with uncertainty, but each found confidence through exploration and support at St. Ambrose.
Their experiences reflect a reality many college students face: choosing a major is not always a straight path. Sometimes it takes trying new classes, asking questions, and changing direction before discovering the right fit.
At St. Ambrose, students are encouraged to do exactly that – explore their interests and pursue the path that feels right for them. Take the first step in discovering your future career: Apply to SAU today.
