Does choice of major affect admission?
John Thompson
Published May 15, 2026
In a nutshell, the chosen major does affect your probability of getting admission in a particular college. Most colleges don't require you to declare your major until late, often sophomore or junior year. If you're applying to a specific school at a college, applying with a major might be more important.
Keeping this in consideration, is it better to apply undecided or with a major?
As your child applies to college, you might find it confusing that many college applications ask students to identify an intended major. For some applicants, applying with a major is the right call. For others, it's better to apply with an undecided major. It all depends on your child's particular situation.
Furthermore, does it matter what major you apply for? A common concern we hear students ask is, “does it matter what major I choose when I apply for college?” The short answer is yes, but it's not as important as you may think. However, unless you have a demonstrated track record of interest in planetary sciences or whatever major you choose, doing so will not help you.
Subsequently, one may also ask, are certain majors harder to get into?
As a general rule, if a major has more specific or harder admission requirements (this is often the case with science, math, nursing, and engineering), it will be harder to transfer into. If changing your major isn't difficult, don't agonize over the decision.
Can you change the major you put on your application?
Typically, it's fairly easy to change majors from within a specific school. It should be noted that some prospective students make the mistake of thinking they can apply to a school with less stringent criteria to secure admission and then simply change majors once they enroll.
Related Question Answers
Is it bad to be undecided major?
Applying undecided will not hurt your chances for admission. College is different than high school. There are many more areas to explore. So, if you don't know what you want to study, don't panic.Can applying under a certain major affect your chances of admission?
There's no one answer to whether or not applying under a less popular major will in any way affect your chances of admission. Because there is no one major in which the number of students exceeds the capacity of the department, acceptance rates typically remain fairly similar regardless of the major.Is it easier to get into college with an undeclared major?
Is it easier to get into college by applying as not declared (undecided) or applying to a certain major? In general, it is easier for most people to get into colleges by NOT applying for STEM majors. That's for two reasons. The first is that STEM majors are tougher, and therefore more selective.Do you have to declare a major when applying to UC?
Your choice of major doesn't usually matter when you apply to the UCs. The exceptions are: engineering, nursing, business administration, some art programs (that require auditions or submission of portfolios), and, occasionally, some science programs (not very often).How do I decide my major?
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.
What is an undecided major called?
You've probably heard the term "undecided major" (also referred to as an "undeclared major") tossed around in a conversation about going to college or choosing a career path. So if you're an English major, you graduate from college with an English degree or a Bachelor of Arts in English.)Do you have to choose a major when applying for college?
Yes. You have plenty of time to choose a major, both before and after you enroll in college. At most colleges, you don't have to choose a major until the end of your sophomore year. Until then, you can take courses in a variety of fields.How does undeclared major work?
Undeclared Majors At some point in pursuing a degree, students will have to declare a major field of study. An undeclared major, however, allows a student to explore various subjects to count toward electives in any major while also completing the general education credits that each degree program will include.What is the easiest major to get?
10 Easiest College Degrees- English literature.
- Sports management.
- Creative writing.
- Communications studies.
- Liberal studies.
- Theater arts.
- Art. You'll study painting, ceramics, photography, sculpture and drawing.
- Education. An article on CBS MoneyWatch named education the country's easiest major.
Which majors are easiest to get into?
The 14 Easiest Majors to Study in College- #1: Psychology. Psychology majors study the inner workings of the human psyche.
- #2: Criminal Justice.
- #3: English.
- #4: Education.
- #5: Social Work.
- #6: Sociology.
- #7: Communications.
- #8: History.
What is the hardest major to get into?
The Hardest- Biology. A biology major can prepare students for careers in the medical and science fields.
- Computer Science. While computer science is one of the hardest college majors, graduates often secure lucrative careers.
- Civil Engineering.
- Mechanical Engineering.
- Social Science.
What are the least popular majors?
The Most and Least Popular Undergraduate Majors Overall, the most popular bachelor's degree is Business or Management. Meanwhile, the least popular undergraduate degree is Computer Sciences.What is the most competitive major?
The Most Popular College Majors| Rank | Major | Number of Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Rank 1 | Major Business and Management | Number of Degrees Awarded 289,384 |
| Rank 2 | Major Nursing | Number of Degrees Awarded 141,632 |
| Rank 3 | Major Psychology | Number of Degrees Awarded 127,066 |
| Rank 4 | Major Biology | Number of Degrees Awarded 120,375 |
Is biology a competitive major?
Short answer, no. In terms of difficulty, math and physics would be considered competitive. In terms of future job opportunities, app math and CS tend to have much more. Biology is considered soft, so there is less recruitment for non-academic opportunities in finance and consulting.Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first choice major?
Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major? I appreciate the change in prompt because students need to cover less territory. Before, in order to discuss your career ambitions, you necessarily needed to discuss how UT will help further your academic knowledge and skills in the meantime.What is the easiest major to get into UC Berkeley?
10 Easiest Majors to Transfer into UC Berkeley| MAJOR | MID-RANGE GPA | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Development Studies | 3.72 - 3.93 |
| 2. | Environmental Economics Policy | 3.42 - 3.78 |
| 3. | Society and Environment | 3.57 - 3.91 |
| 4. | Landscape Architecture | 3.11 - 3.6 |
How do you find a major that you love?
7 Tips for Choosing a College Major You'll Love- Reflect on what interests you.
- Evaluate your beliefs and core values.
- Test out majors by taking introductory courses.
- Ask for help from advisers and those who know you well.
- Check degree requirements.
- Follow your own dreams.
- Use elective credits to explore other interests.
Which engineering is the hardest?
The common consensus is that the hardest engineering degrees are mechanical and aerospace with chemical, electrical, and computer engineering in second, and civil and environmental in last (my school doesn't offer industrial or any of the other ones).Does Harvard admit by major?
Harvard does not require that its incoming first year students declare a major. Harvard offers 50 different concentrations, and students can also construct their own fields of study through our Special Concentrations option.Is Boston College hard to get into?
The acceptance rate at Boston College is 27.9%. This means the school is very selective. If you meet Boston College's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in.Is education an easy major?
It's easy to get "A's" if you're an education major. Research over the years has indicated that education majors, who enter college with the lowest average SAT scores, leave with the highest grades. Some of academic evidence documenting easy A's for future teachers goes back more than 50 years!How do I choose what to study in college?
Make the most of any required general education courses—choose ones that interest you. Talk to professors, advisors, department heads, and other students. Find an internship off campus. Exploring your interests will help you find your best fit major—and maybe even your ideal career.Is it better to apply as undeclared?
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.Is Psychology a competitive major?
How competitive is the psychology major? The psychology major is moderately competitive because we have more students interested in the psychology major than we have spaces for students in our majors classes. We base our admissions decisions on students' cumulative GPA in Psych 101, 202, and 209.How do you guarantee college acceptance?
12 Tips for Getting into the College of Your Choice- Get the best possible grades you can during ALL four years of high school.
- Take academically rigorous classes ALL four years.
- Practice taking the SAT or ACT.
- Try taking both the SAT and ACT.
- Take SAT Subject Tests and AP Tests.
- Spend sufficient time developing your college essays.
