Get in first. Change majors later.
I can’t stress this enough. Unless you are applying for specialized majors like art or music, which require art portfolios or auditions, your stated major on your college applications almost never matters.
Case-in-point: I was accepted to Vanderbilt as a transfer applicant previously majoring in music performance and intending to major in psychology. I was admitted. But Vanderbilt did not care about what courses I took after I enrolled. Neither did it care about what I ultimately decided to major in.
Example 2
Another example: One of my students applied as an economics major to NYU. When he gained admission, he was placed in a liberal arts program that allowed him to declare his major after finishing his two years in that curriculum.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Your academic preferences do matter in your applications. If, for example, you intended to be a computer science major, but your high school academic performance in STEM fields is marred by low grades and poorly written letters of recommendation from teachers who don’t really like you, your chances of admission will be lower. But this only supports my assertion that you should get in first, change majors later.
Allow me to repeat: Get in first. Change majors later.
With few exceptions and regardless of what your applications say, you are admitted to U.S. universities as an undecided major unless you are majoring in something like music performance. Even if you are admitted as a music major, your chances of changing your major are excellent as long as you demonstrate adequate academic potential in that field by showcasing a strong GPA in related courses.
Moreover, even if you are stuck with a certain major, in most situations, that doesn’t matter for your job placement. Most employers don’t care about your major as long as you can demonstrate critical thinking skills and other transferable abilities. Sure, STEM majors definitely get a leg up in securing STEM-related jobs post-graduation, but the overwhelming majority of occupations don’t require you to major in any specific discipline.
Example 3
My last example is of one of our AP Music Theory students, who was accepted to Stanford and Harvard as a Comparative Literature major. After enrolling at Stanford, he decided that he was more passionate about Environmental Science rather than Comparative Literature. He successfully changed his major to Environmental Science. (Incidentally, he is also a tap dancer…but did he have to major in tap dancing to perform in public?)
So, should I repeat myself? Get in first. Change majors later.
About Milestone College Consulting
Milestone College Consulting is a small but dedicated team of indefatigable teachers and college application consultants led by Vanderbilt summa cum laude graduate Raymond Chuang, who has had fourteen years of experience in getting students accepted to top universities. Raymond drinks lots of coffee and energy drinks and is also a professional jazz pianist and amateur theremin player. Right now, he also teaches writing and serves as an advisor of the press team at an international high school in Taiwan. If you want to boost your academic performance and chances of acceptance to your dream schools, check out our expert editing services, book an appointment, or contact us immediately!
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