Gabrielle spent her first year at a Twin Cities community college as an English major, figuring her passion for proofreading friends' papers would translate well to an editing career.

While she "absolutely loved" the subject, a hard-to-shake concern had her questioning her choice.

• "I was terrified that I'd either never find a job or lose my job due to AI," she tells Axios.

The big picture: Gabrielle, who asked Axios to use only her first name due to privacy concerns, isn't alone.

• Nearly half of college students say they've thought at least a fair amount about changing their major or studies because of AI's potential impact, according to recent polling from Lumina Foundation and Gallup.

Driving the fears: College graduates are entering a tumultuous job market that's been rocked by a massive tech evolution, reshaping career prospects for entry-level workers. Concerns about the economy add to the stress.

• "The future feels uncertain, and a lot of these students, there is a lot of anxiousness moving forward," Marcos Cruz, associate director of career advising at Macalester College, tells Axios.

Zoom in: For Gabrielle, now 20, a top priority was landing a stable job in a high-demand industry, so she pivoted to a pre-major track for dental hygiene.

What she's saying: "I can't quite imagine robots taking over this job," she says.

• "Maybe they could. But personally, I wouldn't want a giant clunky robot cleaning my teeth."

Between the lines: Some career advisers caution students against drastic moves, as human skills could also become more valuable to employers as robots take on more routine tasks.

• Cruz says he reminds nervous students that many liberal arts majors are designed to help them develop critical thinking, teamwork and professionalism.

Plus: Your major doesn't necessarily dictate your career. Cruz often cites an example of a doctor who studied music as an undergrad.

Yes, but: Thoughtful exploration, he said, can be a good thing. And for Gabrielle, the contemplation made way to a new passion.

• She discovered she also has a love of science, and plans to apply for a full dental hygienist program.

Some colleges are increasingly looking for ways to address student concerns about the future — and prepare them to live and work in an AI-assisted world — through their coursework.

Case in point: The University of Minnesota's computer science department is launching two new classes related to AI next fall, professor Loren Terveen tells Axios.

• One, titled "Thinking With Machines," is open to any student across the university, no prerequisite required.

The goal, Terveen says, is to give students "fundamental computer skills" and an understanding of how to deploy current AI tools to position them for jobs of the future.

The intrigue: Computer science major enrollment is down at the U, mirroring a national trend.

• But career placement data shows that demand for those grads remains high — a trend Terveen expects to grow as more companies need hires who can help them make the most of the technology.

The catch: Instead of joining tech companies that have been rocked by layoffs, more students are landing at financial firms, e-commerce companies and startups.

What's next: The U is developing an AI minor that combines computational classes with electives on issues ranging from environmental and ethical impacts to the use of the tech in specific scientific disciplines.

Click to share with a college-bound friend

📚 Minneapolis Public Schools has racked up over $5 million in tax penalties from the IRS since 2022. (Minnesota Reformer)

• The district says it has paid $770,000 in fines and is working to get the rest lowered.

💵 An amended financial disclosure filed by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar says her family's assets total $95,000 or less — far less than the $6 million to $30 million she reported last year. (WSJ)

• An attorney for Omar, whose finances have attracted scrutiny from a congressional oversight committee, said an accounting error was to blame.

🚧 Major construction on Highway 12 from Minnetonka to Wayzata begins this morning. MnDOT expects lane and ramp closures to extend through November. (Details)

⚖️ Federal prosecutors are still weighing whether to seek the death penalty against the man charged with killing Melissa and Mark Hortman and shooting the Hoffmans. A decision is expected by Labor Day. (KSTP)

🏢 The Dayton's Project is facing a potential foreclosure, raising new questions about the future of the high-profile downtown Minneapolis redevelopment. (Star Tribune)

Today is 4/20, and for Minnesota cannabis users, it's the first such holiday during which there's a big enough industry to easily buy the stuff legally.

State of play: The rollout has been slow as an influx of retailers awaits growers to produce enough to stock stores. But there are signs of progress.

🏪 Minnesota has surpassed 100 marijuana dispensaries, according to a Star Tribune tracker.

💰 Monthly retail sales reached $13 million in March after hovering in the $8 to $10 million range between October and February, per state figures.

🌿 Growers harvested 17,000 plants last month, up from the roughly 10,000 a month they were harvesting last fall.

See more stats on the state's Cannabis Market Monitor

Smart, essential local news doesn't happen by accident. It's powered by readers like you.

Why it matters: Your support helps keep our coverage focused on what matters most in your community, from big decisions to everyday changes shaping where you live.

💡 Become a member today. You'll back the journalism that keeps you informed and help ensure it stays strong.

Your support helps us keep your community connected to what matters most.

The U of M women's gymnastics team competed in its first-ever NCAA Final Four this weekend.

The big picture: The No. 13 Gophers upset Jordan Chiles-led UCLA to earn their spot in Saturday's championship meet.

• They placed fourth against the country's three top-ranked schools: Oklahoma, LSU and Florida.

Zoom in: On beam, U senior Brooklyn Rowray won the program's first individual national championship in 36 years.

More All-American honors