Pros, Cons of Applying to College as an Undecided Major

Don't declare a major on college applications if you haven't fully researched potential fields.

 

By Bradford Holmes March 7, 2016, at 9:00 a.m.

The applications for many colleges and universities allow students to specify an intended major, though this is not required – and not all students do so. In most cases, choosing to begin college as an undecided major or electing to declare a major before arriving on campus depends on an individual student's situation.
Below are several scenarios for and against applying with an undecided major.

When to Apply to College as an Undeclared Major
If you have a competitive concentration in mind, but would like to use the first year of college to build a strong GPA, it likely makes sense to apply as an undeclared major. This is a particularly good idea if your high school GPA is not strong in the major's related fields.

Engineering is one common major where this strategy may apply. Because engineering offers strong career prospects, making it a popular concentration, universities can be highly selective in which applicants they accept to their engineering schools. If you lack a history of high school success in science and math classes, it may be best to take college-level courses in the so-called STEM fields before you apply to the major.

As long as the required courses for this major are not so numerous that they need to be started during your freshman year, consider this approach.

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

Have you learned enough about multiple majors and compared them so that you can make an informed decision? Do you know what the requirements are for your prospective major? Have you researched the career options that are available to students who are majoring in this field? If you cannot answer "yes" to all of these questions, it is likely best to apply as an undeclared major.
[Try asking these 10 questions before picking a major.]

Finally, even if you are certain about what you wish to study, and even if you have provided carefully researched answers to the questions outlined above, it may be best to wait. Remember that no matter how certain you are now, your mind may change, especially once you arrive at college and are exposed to its seemingly endless array of course offerings. Do not paint yourself into a corner if there is no compelling reason to do so.

In many cases – though not all – your college or university will not require you to declare a major as a high school senior. You may even be encouraged to wait until the end of your sophomore year of college to choose a concentration. 

When to Apply to College as a Declared Major
There are some situations in which it may benefit you to declare your major on your college application. While simply being sure about what field you wish to major in does not necessarily mean that you should declare early, if that major requires a specific set of courses from freshman year on, then it is in your best interests to declare. Doing so on your application could allow you to begin those requirements as soon as possible.
[Get tips from current students on choosing a college major.]

Sometimes, declaring a major during the application process can offer you benefits that you would not receive were you to wait a year or two to declare. If, for example, your major has a number of required classes that are offered infrequently, declaring your major early may gain you automatic admittance to these courses. If nothing else, it will also provide you with more attempts to register over your four years.

Applying to college with a specific major in mind may also qualify you for additional forms of financial support such as department-specific scholarships, special freshman housing or professional development opportunities that are only open to majors. If you have made up your mind about your major, and the college to which you are applying offers a perk that makes it advantageous to declare early, selecting a major on your application makes sense.

Deciding whether to declare a major on your college application should not be taken lightly. But don't, under any circumstances, declare a major on your application when you are not sure about it.