Is it better to pick a major or apply undecided? (2024)

Table of Contents

Is it better to pick a major or apply undecided?

Most admissions experts agree that in most cases, there's no harm in putting “undecided” on your college application. Admissions counselors know that choosing your major is a tough decision, so they're not surprised when some students just aren't sure about what they want to study.

(Video) Should You Apply to College Undecided?
(Gohar Khan)
What is the best thing to major in if you are undecided?

Considered the best major for undecided students is liberal studies. This major offers broad studies that apply to different careers. As a liberal studies major, you will take humanities, social science, and other classes. From history to psychology, plan on taking many liberal arts courses.

(Video) Is It Okay To Apply To College With An Undecided Major?
(College Coach)
Does applying undecided hurt your chances at Harvard?

If not, does being undeclared or undecided hurt my admissions chances? The short answer to both questions is YES, your declared major or the specific program to which you are applying can have a significant impact on your acceptance chances.

(Video) Is It Bad To Put Undecided on a College Application?
(Signature College Counseling)
What percentage of students are undecided about major?

An estimated 20-50% of students enter college undecided, while an estimated 75% report having changed their major at least once. And at most institutions, students have access to a wealth of resources they can use to narrow down a major.

(Video) Undecided? | Genevieve Morgan | TEDxYouth@CEHS
(TEDx Talks)
Is it easier to get into college with an undeclared major?

Most admissions experts agree that in most cases, there's no harm in putting “undecided” on your college application. Admissions counselors know that choosing your major is a tough decision, so they're not surprised when some students just aren't sure about what they want to study.

(Video) Should You Apply “Undecided”?
(Solution Prep)
What is the most useful major?

Here is a list of the most useful college majors based on post-graduate employment and median annual wage as noted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
  • Biomedical engineering. ...
  • Computer science. ...
  • Marine engineering. ...
  • Pharmaceutical sciences. ...
  • Computer engineering. ...
  • Electrical engineering. ...
  • Finance. ...
  • Software engineering.

(Video) Hear from Once Undecided Students and How They Chose Their Major
(Nichols College)
What majors make it easier to get into college?

Here are the 16 Easiest College Majors for 2022:
  • Psychology.
  • Criminal Justice.
  • English.
  • Education.
  • Religious Studies.
  • Social Work.
  • Sociology.
  • Communications.
May 11, 2022

(Video) Is It Bad to Apply to College as Undecided? #shorts
(Gohar Khan)
What happens if you don't get accepted into your major?

Make an appointment with your advisor

They will have advice and may have other options available to you. Bring questions and any paperwork that you usually bring to advising meetings. You may want to research some of your options beforehand (backup major, similar majors, etc).

(Video) Tips on Finding a Major as An Undecided Student
(Shania Spence)
How can I increase my chances of getting into Harvard?

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into Harvard
  1. Achieve at least a 4.22 while taking the most challenging classes available. ...
  2. Aim for a 1580 SAT and 35 ACT (use the 75th percentile) ...
  3. Cultivate at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “spike”) ...
  4. Write engaging essays. ...
  5. Ace Your Interview.
Sep 11, 2021

(Video) HOW TO CHOOSE A MAJOR IF YOU'RE UNDECIDED
(Alma College Admissions)
Which college major has the most free time?

Check out the list of the 10 college majors with the most free time:
  • Zoology. ...
  • Marketing. ...
  • Economics. ...
  • Public Relations and Advertising. ...
  • Computer Engineering and Tech. ...
  • Astronomy. Hours of relaxation per week: 13.08.
  • Computer Science. Hours of relaxation per week: 13.7.
  • Software Engineering. Hours of relaxation per week: 13.84.
Jan 30, 2018

(Video) how to pick a college major | tips & advice
(Angelica Song)

How many people don't know what they want to major in?

Facts and figures. An estimated 20 to 50 percent of students enter college as “undecided” (Gordon, 1995) and an estimated 75 percent of students change their major at least once before graduation (Gordon, 1995).

(Video) CHOOSING MY COLLEGE DEGREE | From undecided major to mechanical engineering major
(Natalia Pascual)
What should I do if I'm undecided?

5 Tips for Undecided Students
  1. Visit the Career Services Center. Make an appointment with a staff member at the Career Services Center. ...
  2. Be open. ...
  3. Get involved with student activities. ...
  4. Talk to other students about their majors. ...
  5. Research potential career opportunities - and go on a job shadow.
Aug 5, 2019

Is it better to pick a major or apply undecided? (2024)
Why is being undecided major bad?

The second and perhaps most important – and more common – reason to opt against declaring a major on your college application is if you are truly undecided. It is not worth choosing a concentration before you have fully researched your potential field.

What is the hardest major to get into?

Hardest College Majors
  1. Biology: Typically chosen by those entering the health and medical fields, biology is the study of living organisms. ...
  2. Computer Science: ...
  3. Civil Engineering: ...
  4. Mechanical Engineering: ...
  5. Social Sciences:

Does your major affect your acceptance?

The simple answer is: no. In the vast majority of cases, your intended major does not affect your chances of being accepted to a certain school. A big part of this is because colleges know many students will change their major sometime during college.

What degrees are useless?

20 Most Useless Degrees
  • Advertising. If you're an advertising major, you may hope to get into digital marketing, e-commerce, or sports marketing. ...
  • Anthropology And Archeology. ...
  • Art history. ...
  • Communications. ...
  • Computer Science. ...
  • Creative Writing. ...
  • Criminal Justice. ...
  • Culinary arts.

What's the hardest major in college?

Introducing the 13 Hardest College Majors
  • #8: Biochemistry or Biophysics. ...
  • #7: Astronomy. ...
  • #6: Physics. ...
  • #5: Cell and Molecular Biology. ...
  • #4: Biomedical Engineering. ...
  • #3: Aero and Astronautical Engineering. ...
  • #2: Chemical Engineering. ...
  • #1: Architecture. Average Hours Spent Preparing for Class Each Week: 22.20.
Feb 10, 2021

What is the easiest major that pays well?

The easiest majors that pay well are as follows: Psychology Criminal Justice Education Religious Studies Social Work Sociology Communications History Anthropology Supply Chain Management Humanities Business management Fine Arts Foreign Language Marketing.

What is the hardest year of college?

There is no question that the first semester of the freshman year of college is the most critical. Many studies show that freshman year is the time when students most likely drop out of college – if not permanently, then temporarily.

What can I do to increase my chances of getting into college?

Below, we introduce our top nine tips to help you increase your chances of getting accepted to your dream college.
  1. Earn Good Grades in Challenging Courses. ...
  2. Get a High SAT/ACT Score. ...
  3. Write a Compelling Personal Statement. ...
  4. Demonstrate Interest. ...
  5. Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation. ...
  6. Apply to a Diverse Selection of Colleges.
Sep 29, 2021

Can a college reject your major?

While some colleges may offer you admission into a general studies program if you do not get accepted into your first-choice program, other colleges may reject your application completely. If you wish to declare your major, research each college thoroughly before you submit your application.

Is a 4.21 GPA good?

A 4.2 indicates that you are earning Bs and B+s in high level classes or As and A+s in mid level classes. This is a very good GPA, and it should give you a strong chance of admission at most colleges. 99.36% of schools have an average GPA below a 4.2.

Which high school sends the most students to Harvard?

Westlake sends most students to Harvard, Princeton, MIT of any Texas public high school. AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) — The public Texas high school that sends the most students to Harvard, Princeton and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is right here in Austin. Westlake ranked No.

What does your GPA have to be to get into Harvard?

Most students admitted to Harvard have an unweighted GPA of 4.18 or above, so you'll need to have at least a 4.2 to be seriously evaluated. To meet the Harvard requirements, you'll have to score primarily A's on your high school courses.

Which major is the most stressful?

10 Most Stressful College Majors
  • Theoretical & Experimental Physics. ...
  • Philosophy. ...
  • Architecture. ...
  • Molecular Biology. ...
  • Electrical Engineering. ...
  • Chemical Engineering. Average studying time per week: 20-24h. ...
  • Medicine & Healthcare. Average studying time per week: 20-25h. ...
  • Law. Average studying time per week: 15-18h.
Nov 19, 2021

What major will guarantee me a job?

Computer Science—72%

With such a high demand for skilled Computer Science majors, it makes perfect sense that they would have the highest job placement percentage of any other.

Whats the easiest college major?

Business administration ranks as our #1 easiest college major because it has that perfect trio of low weekly homework load, high average GPA, and great ROI. If you have solid business acumen, a head for figures, and a desire to work with people, could be a great-fit major for you.

What major has the most job opportunities?

Most In-Demand Degrees
  1. Pharmacology. For a lucrative career helping people, pharmacology is at the top of the list for in-demand degrees. ...
  2. Computer Science. ...
  3. Health Science. ...
  4. Information Technology. ...
  5. Engineering. ...
  6. Business Administration. ...
  7. Finance. ...
  8. Human Resources.

What percent of college students get a job in their major?

After those jobs, however, the report starts to look more like the findings from a study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which found that only 27 percent of college graduates work in a field related to their major. Emsi found that most graduates' outcomes are dispersed widely, among a broad array of careers.

What major makes the most money?

The 12 Highest Paying College Majors
  • Business Operations Research. ...
  • Political Economics. ...
  • Business Analytics. Starting salary: $57,200. ...
  • Pharmacist. Starting salary: $79,600. ...
  • Aeronautics. Starting salary: $73,100. ...
  • Economics. Starting salary: $60,100. ...
  • Accounting. Starting salary: $56,400. ...
  • Business Management. Starting salary: $61,000.

What major should I choose if I don't know what to do?

If you have no idea what you want to do after graduation, a liberal arts or interdisciplinary studies major may be right for you. In these types of majors, there tends to be a lot more flexibility in your choice of classes, and you can take classes on race, gender, sexuality, foreign language, culture, and more.

What should I do if I'm undecided?

5 Tips for Undecided Students
  1. Visit the Career Services Center. Make an appointment with a staff member at the Career Services Center. ...
  2. Be open. ...
  3. Get involved with student activities. ...
  4. Talk to other students about their majors. ...
  5. Research potential career opportunities - and go on a job shadow.
Aug 5, 2019

What to do if you can't choose a major?

There are certain things that you can do to help yourself when choosing a major.
...
Things That Will Help You Decide On A Major
  1. Think About What You're Good At. ...
  2. Think About Your Hobbies. ...
  3. Talk To People In The Field You're Deciding On. ...
  4. Reach Out To Your Advisor. ...
  5. Join A Career Center. ...
  6. Try Some Gen-Eds First.
Mar 22, 2022

How do you know which major is right for you?

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to choose a major:
  • Identify Interests, Values, Passions, and Abilities.
  • Consider the Future.
  • Choose the Right School.
  • Give Yourself Time.
  • Get Help.
  • Spot Any Disadvantages Before Choosing a Major.
  • Change Your Mind.
  • Do a Reality Check.
Jun 17, 2022

You might also like
Popular posts
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated: 11/03/2024

Views: 5871

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.