Do You Have to Declare Your Major on Your College Application?

Some people know exactly what they want to be when they grow up from the time they are very small. Other people gradually hone in on their field of interest when they are teenagers.

What happens, however, if you are about to graduate high school and you still have no clear idea what you want to do with your life or what field you want to study? Every college application seems to ask you to declare a major, and you’re just not ready to commit to such a life-altering decision.

Will Marking “Undeclared” as a Major Hurt Your Chances of Admission?

The short answer to this question is, “Maybe.” It really depends on the school and your academic record.

The long answer is a bit more complicated. On one hand, most college admissions boards realize that not every 17-year-old has a clear vision of what their adult life should be, which is why there’s an “undecided” option in the first place.

If you’re an excellent candidate for admission with a strong transcript, great test scores, a stellar GPA and a fantastic personal essay, the admissions board isn’t likely to hold the fact that you’re still undecided about your major against you. That may just translate to the idea that you’re still open-minded and exploring.

On the other hand, if you’re applying for a spot in a highly competitive school and you have a few weak spots in your transcript, marking “undecided” could be problematic. It could make you seem unmotivated or indecisive. When your application is weaker than you’d like, expressing a passion for a specific area of study (and backing that up through your essay) can help tilt the board’s decision in your favor.

In addition, if your chosen major happens to be in an area that’s not particularly popular, you could increase your chances of admission to the school of your choice simply because there’s less competition and the admissions board wants to increase enrollment.

What Other Potential Problems Could Declaring (or Not Declaring) a Major Cause?

There are a few additional potential pitfalls with leaving your major undecided on your applications for admission. Unfortunately, the same is true about declaring a major when you’re not absolutely sure that’s what you want to study.

First, some schools won’t even consider your application unless you declare a major. You’re applying for a specific program, not the school in general.

Plus, some majors require a specific set of required courses from your freshman year onward. If you wait to declare your major, you may find yourself falling behind your peers or playing “catch-up” with extra coursework later.

On the flip side, once you’re admitted to a specific program, some schools won’t let you change your major down the road — even if you decide you hate what you’re studying. Getting locked in could be devastating if you’re really not sure what you want to do.

What’s the Final Take on the Issue of Undeclared Majors?

You need to do a little research on each school before you apply so that you fully understand their policies. Do they allow admissions to a general studies program in the first place? If you declare a major on your application and get accepted, how hard is it to change your major later?

And, of course, you have to ask yourself if you’re ready to make that decision. If not, it may be better to be selective about the application process so that you don’t find yourself hemmed in by a premature decision.