Is It Better To Apply With A Major Or Undecided?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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.

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Is it better to put undecided on a college application?

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.

Is it better to apply undeclared or with a major?

The bottom line: unless your child is applying to a university that requires them to apply for admission to a certain major or school, it's up to them whether or not they want to apply as an undecided major.

There's no harm in marking undeclared

—in fact, if it's the honest answer, it's the best answer.

Does the major you choose affect admission?

Does your major affect admission into a particular college? 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. … So your intended major isn't a factor schools consider, in most cases.

What is the best major for undecided?

  • Communication. Whether you like to read, write or talk, communication can grow your skill set and broaden your horizons. …
  • English. If English is your first language, consider making it your major. …
  • Health Science. …
  • Psychology. …
  • Economics. …
  • Business. …
  • Biology. …
  • Chemistry.

Can I change my major after being accepted?


Not all colleges will allow you to change your major after

you have been accepted into your declared major program. You must be absolutely sure that you are not going to change your mind once you have declared your major.

What percent of college students are undecided?

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.

Can you go to college without a major?


Don't declare a major on your if you haven't fully researched that academic concentration

. … The applications for many colleges and universities allow students to specify an intended major, though this is not required – and not all students ultimately choose to do so.

Does applying undeclared hurt your chances UC?

Although our selection process may vary between UC campuses, applying as

an undeclared student is not going to affect their selectivity to the UC

•Reassure your students that being admitted to undeclared is okay.

What major is easiest to get into college with?

  1. Business Administration. Average GPA: 3.2.
  2. Psychology. Average GPA: 3.3. …
  3. Education. Average GPA: 3.6. …
  4. Social Work. Average GPA: 3.4. …
  5. Public Relations & Advertising. Average GPA: 3.0. …
  6. Criminal Justice. Average GPA: 3.1. …
  7. Journalism. Average GPA: 3.2. …
  8. Economics. Average GPA: 3.0. …

What happens if you don't get into your major?

The general

process involves submitting an application with the courses you believe fulfill the prerequisites of your intended major

, and then hearing from the department to see if you were accepted. …

Which majors are competitive?

  1. Psychology. Psychology is probably the most common social science major I see high school students declaring on their college applications. …
  2. Communications. Communications is another common major among undergraduate students.
  3. The Arts (Music, Theater, Film) …
  4. Engineering. …
  5. Pre-Med or BS/MD.

Does applying to a less popular major help?


There's no one answer to

whether or not applying under a less popular major will in any way affect your chances of admission. … Students hoping to circumvent the higher admissions standards may choose to declare a less common major on their application or apply undeclared.

What is the happiest major?

  • Computer Science and Computer Information Systems.
  • Entrepreneurship.
  • Business Administration and Management.
  • Communication Disorders.

What major is the most useful?

Rank Declared degree Percent with advanced degree 1

Architectural Engineering

29%
2 Construction Services 12% 3 Computer Engineering 40% 4 Aerospace Engineering 51%

What is the most fun major?

  • Popular culture. …
  • Kinesiology. …
  • Disability studies. …
  • Bakery science. …
  • Comedy. …
  • Speech, language and hearing sciences. …
  • Human-computer interaction. …
  • Design-your-own major. Most smaller liberal arts colleges and universities offer this option, for individuals who want to create their own path.

What is the hardest major to get into?

  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:

What should I do if Im undecided?

  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.

What are the least popular majors?

  • Legal professions and studies: 0.2% share of students.
  • Communications technologies: 0.2%
  • Transportation and materials moving: 0.3%

Does changing majors cost money?

A toll of

approximately $20,000 per major change

, according to one report. The College Board reports the average cost for tuition and fees is now up to $9,970 for in-state students, $25,620 for out-of-state students, and $34,740 for private school students.

How many students are still undecided?

According to surveys, an

estimated 20 to 50 percent of students enter college

as undecided, and an estimated 75 percent of students change their major at least once before graduation. So, while you may feel alone as an enrolled, undecided student, you're far from it.

How many people have undecided majors?

Understand that you are far from alone.

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.

Can I graduate with no major?

Graduating with

no major beats not graduating at all

, and many others are in the same situation, but I'd still recommend you do try to go back to attain specialized education. Better yet, try to boost your GPA high enough to get you into a specialized graduate school program.

What majors do colleges want?

  • Computer Science. …
  • Communications. …
  • Government/Political Science. …
  • Business. …
  • Economics. …
  • English Language and Literature. …
  • Psychology. …
  • Nursing.

Do you have to retake a class if you get ad in college?

If you get

a D in any course, you can choose to retake the course

. If you do not retake it and move on in the sequence of courses (ex.

Do UC admit majors?


Most UCs do not consider majors when making admission decisions

. Generally speaking, all majors within a college or school are equally competitive.

What college has a 100% acceptance rate?

School Location Fall 2020 acceptance rate
Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID 100%
MidAmerica Nazarene University Olathe, KS 100% Montana State University–Billings Billings, MT 100% Naropa University Boulder, CO 100%

What are the least stressful majors?

  • Zoology. …
  • Marketing. …
  • Economics. …
  • Public Relations and Advertising. …
  • Computer Engineering and Tech. …
  • Astronomy. …
  • Computer Science. Hours of relaxation per week: 13.7.
  • Software Engineering. Hours of relaxation per week: 13.84.

How do I pick a major?

  1. Decide what to study as an undergraduate. …
  2. Find your passion. …
  3. Think about colleges when picking a major. …
  4. Carefully consider career advice. …
  5. Declare a major on college applications. …
  6. Know how far your major will take you at the undergraduate level. …
  7. Weigh a STEM discipline. …
  8. Pair your major with a useful minor.

Should I apply to UC Berkeley undecided?

Many students are undecided about their major and there are options in three of Berkeley's colleges to be “undeclared”. … While the College of Engineering offers undeclared as an option, we recommend that applicants

select a major

if you know for sure your intended major.

Can I change my major after being accepted UC?


Yes

, as long as you fulfill the requirements for the major within a prescribed amount of time. Usually you can switch in Letters and Sciences; other colleges are harder. You may possibly be able to transfer from one college to another if you get approval.

What are the hardest majors in college?

College Major Time Spent Preparing for Class per Week 1. Architecture 22.20 hrs 2. Chemical Engineering 19.66 hrs 3. Aero and Astronautical Engineering 19.24 hrs 4. Biomedical Engineering 18.82 hrs

Do Ivy Leagues admit by major?


Students do not have to enter the school with their major declared

, but most do. It is fairly simple for students to change their concentration. It is difficult but possible to change schools, although the process is not guaranteed. Changing majors is easy, and adding a second major from a different school is possible.

Can you switch majors at Harvard?

Frequently Asked Questions “… all undergraduate students, whatever their intended concentration, apply to and are enrolled in Harvard College.” Students declare their concentrations during their sophomore year. So

no “switching” is needed

.

How do you declare a major in college?

  1. Review major requirements. …
  2. Pick up a Declaration of Major form from the registrar's office.
  3. Schedule an appointment for the department in which you want to declare your major.
  4. Return the signed form by the noted deadline.

What to do when you get accepted into university?

  1. Wait for more options. If you applied to more than one school, wait until you hear back from the others. …
  2. Do your research… again. …
  3. Talk it out. Talk to your family and friends about your options. …
  4. Reflect. …
  5. Access your student portal. …
  6. Keep track of deadlines.

What majors are the future?

  • Physical Therapy.
  • Nursing. …
  • Construction Management. …
  • Electrical Engineering. …
  • Medical Technology. …
  • Medical Assistance. …
  • Chemical Engineering. …
  • Computer Information Systems. Computer majors are gaining in popularity and employment potential as well. …

What if I dont get into college?

1.

Apply to a Community College

. If you are determined to attend school in September, use a community college as your next step. … Many students who were not prepared to enter a four-year institution directly from high school achieve great success after completing at least one year of coursework at a community college.

What is the least regretted major?

ZipRecruiter recently conducted a survey of more than 5,000 job seekers who are college graduates and found that

computer science

is the major least likely to be regretted later.

What are the most stressful majors?

  1. Fine Arts. Average studying time per week: 12-17h. …
  2. Nursing. Average studying time per week: 14-17h. …
  3. Theoretical & Experimental Physics. Average studying time per week: 15-17h. …
  4. Philosophy. …
  5. Architecture. …
  6. Molecular Biology. …
  7. Electrical Engineering. …
  8. Chemical Engineering.

What is the unhappiest profession?

Ranking as the unhappiest job in America is

Accountant

, followed by Security Guard and Cashier.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.