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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Biomedical engineering. ...
- Computer science. ...
- Marine engineering. ...
- Pharmaceutical sciences. ...
- Computer engineering. ...
- Electrical engineering. ...
- Finance. ...
- Software engineering.
- Psychology.
- Criminal Justice.
- English.
- Education.
- Religious Studies.
- Social Work.
- Sociology.
- Communications.
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).
- Achieve at least a 4.22 while taking the most challenging classes available. ...
- Aim for a 1580 SAT and 35 ACT (use the 75th percentile) ...
- Cultivate at least one or two Tier 1-2 extracurriculars (find your “spike”) ...
- Write engaging essays. ...
- Ace Your Interview.
- 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.
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).
- Visit the Career Services Center. Make an appointment with a staff member at the Career Services Center. ...
- Be open. ...
- Get involved with student activities. ...
- Talk to other students about their majors. ...
- Research potential career opportunities - and go on a job shadow.
![Is it better to pick a major or apply undecided? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GDKA20PzGf0/hq720_2.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEdCJUDENAFSFXyq4qpAw8IARUAAIhCcAHAAQbQAQE=&rs=AOn4CLB0blDlGjSBC3fbEup6-yVp4g1ZWQ)
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.
- Biology: Typically chosen by those entering the health and medical fields, biology is the study of living organisms. ...
- Computer Science: ...
- Civil Engineering: ...
- Mechanical Engineering: ...
- Social Sciences:
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.
- 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.
- #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.
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.
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.
- Earn Good Grades in Challenging Courses. ...
- Get a High SAT/ACT Score. ...
- Write a Compelling Personal Statement. ...
- Demonstrate Interest. ...
- Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation. ...
- Apply to a Diverse Selection of Colleges.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.
- Pharmacology. For a lucrative career helping people, pharmacology is at the top of the list for in-demand degrees. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Health Science. ...
- Information Technology. ...
- Engineering. ...
- Business Administration. ...
- Finance. ...
- Human Resources.
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.
- 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.
- Visit the Career Services Center. Make an appointment with a staff member at the Career Services Center. ...
- Be open. ...
- Get involved with student activities. ...
- Talk to other students about their majors. ...
- Research potential career opportunities - and go on a job shadow.
...
Things That Will Help You Decide On A Major
- Think About What You're Good At. ...
- Think About Your Hobbies. ...
- Talk To People In The Field You're Deciding On. ...
- Reach Out To Your Advisor. ...
- Join A Career Center. ...
- Try Some Gen-Eds First.
- 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.