It's OK to change your mind. That's what college is for, right? Right! We promise it's not weird to declare a major and later decide it's not for you or to find out you like something else better.

Changing your major when you're a freshman or a sophomore might be mildly inconvenient, but it's not the end of the world. However, changing things up your junior or senior year, after you've already completely a good chunk of the required courses, is another deal entirely. You might not be able to graduate on time. Financial aid might not cover the extra courses.

If this is your situation, we've got some tips to help you avoid the logistical nightmare that officially declaring a new major involves. You don't need to major in a field to learn about it or to become good at it, and here's how...

Buy a book and teach yourself

We know, easier said than done. But if you're really passionate about learning something new, the obvious (and cheapest) way to do it is DIY.

Take a class or two in your new desired major...

Depending on how flexible your schedule is, you might be able to take electives in your desired major. You won't learn everything you need to know in one course, but at least you'll have a foundation to go off of.

...or audit those courses

If your schedule is too crazy, find out if auditing is possible. That way you can learn without the added pressure of exams or assignments. Taking a class pass/fail is also a great option if the professor won't let you audit.

Get involved with related organizations

Join clubs or societies on or off campus that are related to whatever you're interested in studying. It's an easy way to get more info about the field, gain access to valuable resources and meet people who share your interests. Speaking of which...

Befriend students studying your dream major

These students -- besides being generally awesome people you'd likely want to be friends with anyway -- can give you advice about what courses to take and what professors to avoid. This is especially important if you can only afford to take one or two classes in your desired major. You want to make sure you choose the best courses possible.

Talk to professors

...in both your current and desired majors. They'll give you real talk about what's feasible and what's not when it comes to pursuing your new interest -- or combining two existing interests.

If you have some experience, get a part-time job or intern

Ask around campus to find out who's hiring. Maybe a professor could use an extra hand in their lab. Email your resume out to your network.

The great thing about being a college student is that no one expects you to be a pro at anything. You're still learning, and that's totally OK. Many on-campus workplaces have specific undergrad positions available to give interested students more experience in the field. That real-world experience is just as, if not more, valuable than anything you learn in the classroom.

If you don't have any experience, volunteer

If you REALLY have zero experience, offer to volunteer. There might not be room in the lab or office's budget to pay you, but at least you're still learning about the stuff you want to know more about.

Job shadow people working in your dream career

You'll learn more AND make great connections that could help you when you're looking for a job down the line. It's a win-win.

Take classes at another college if necessary

If your school doesn't offer your dream major, ask your academic adviser if you can get credit for courses taken elsewhere. You don't need to full-on transfer to another college, since that might be too difficult logistically or financially. Take your desired courses at a neighboring school if they offer it, or look into related online courses.

Study abroad programs are also a great way to get a taste of another school without actually transferring. Most students who study abroad go to an international college, but U.S. schools have their own programs as well. Do some research. That one college you didn't get into might have an AWESOME photojournalism abroad program your school would never offer -- and it doesn't hurt to ask the program's faculty if you can attend despite going to a different college.

(When I went abroad for specialized english and theater program through my school, students from several different universities joined us.)

Consider specialized post-graduate programs

Some universities offer masters or submatriculation programs for students who didn't take the typical courses during college. For example, the University of Pennsylvania has a Master of Computer and Information Technology program specifically for applicants who didn't study computer science in undergrad. Post-baccalaureate programs also make it possible to take the courses required for grad school after earning your bachelor's.

Post-undergrad courses and degrees require tuition, though, so make sure it's really what you want to pursue. Submatriculating lets you start grad school while you're still in undergrad, so that's one way to save on tuition. Applying to scholarships and fellowships is another.

Think about changing the type of degree you're pursuing

Switching from a Bachelor of Science to a Bachelor of Arts degree, for example, might give you a more flexible course load with more options for electives. Talk to your academic adviser to find out your school's specific policies.

Combine your true interests with what you're already studying

If all else fails, find a way to incorporate what you're REALLY interested in with your current major. If you're a bio major but want to try something more creative, write a badass science fiction story for your school's literary magazine. If you're a psychology major who yearns to code the next big app, talk to the researchers who develop computer programs for psych experiments.

Those are just examples, but there are tons of possibilities here. You can mold your major into something uniquely YOU.