The first year that I taught a lecture course I had a student that was struggling hugely with the academics and when I talked to him about it, it was clear he had neither aptitude nor passion for engineering. But in talking to him about what he loved doing he kept talking about graphic arts and so I suggested that he might check with some placed that had programs in graphic arts and see if it might be a viable alternative -- transferring to an easier major at Mines wasn't an option because Electrical Engineering was widely regarded as the easiest major on campus. A week or two later he had dropped out of school completely and I figured I'd never hear from him again. Just before the end of the semester he stopped by specifically to tell me that he was enrolled in a graphic arts major at the university and he wanted to thank me. He was thoroughly enjoying it and was already working as an intern in the industry. He showed me some of the work he had done and it was amazing, and you could see the passion on his face and in his voice. I always wondered what became of him, but I'd bet on him being successful -- very possibly to a greater degree than I have been in my chosen field.My favorite alternative to engineering is Art History. At the University of Michigan, when I was an undergraduate, it was supposedly one of the easiest of the easy "A" classes. If you search my threads there will be previous references.
Geez! I just did that and amazed myself at how many times I've suggested it. I wonder if any of them took me up on that suggestion. I've been here for 16 years so maybe I should not be that surprised.