Does major matter?
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Anonymous
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DC attends a school with a focus area (like school of the arts). They have done well and enjoy the area, but not sure if they want to major in the focus area. Most of what they have received awards for and spent time on is related to the area. If they are undecided, is it better to declare this area as a major and decide once admitted or pick something else or apply as undecided?
Most of the schools they are applying to don't admit by major. Will they have a stronger application with all the parts fitting together and related to the focus area? |
Anonymous
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It really depends on the school.
The school my daughter chose gives either an academic or talent scholarship, but not both. She may NOT wind up a full major in the area she got a talent scholarship for, and my biggest concern was that she would lose her scholarship and have to transfer. This was one of the last questions we asked before she made her decision. The answer at this school was no, she would keep her initial scholarship. |
Anonymous
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If your student may NOT get a major in the art discipline, you need to make sure whatever school they choose has other majors that work for them.
One of the best schools for dance in the country is Point Park in Pittsburgh. It does have other majors (someone we know went in a theater tech major and ended up an education major). For whatever reason, they do NOT have kinesiology/exercise science, which is a very common double for dancers (who want to go into AT or PT). For that reason, my child didn't even look. |
Anonymous
| I think it depends on each college. If the area you are talking about is highly competitive admit for the school, you might strategically choose to go undecided if you think it gives a better chance of admission. If the area is not-any-more-competitive than the liberal arts school I think it's fine to go either way. I'm assuming she has no interest in areas like CS, Engineering or Business which for some universities are highly competitive and difficult to get in, difficult to transfer in.... |
Anonymous
| I think it can matter, especially if it's not a highly sought-after one. My DC applied to one of the less popular majors at UVA and got in, despite it being her reach school. A friend's son applied to be a Classics major (hardly popular) and got in to a highly competitive university with acceptance rates in the low teens. |
Anonymous
| I would declare the major then change once admitted. You probably can’t change to a limited enrollment program easily tho |
Anonymous
| My kid is questioning this approach as well. He wants to double, and his areas are very different (music and biology). He plans to decide which to emphasize based on the school and will add the second major later. I wouldn’t advocate claiming undecided. That just looks wishy washy. Kids aren’t expected to have all the answers at 17-18, but they should demonstrate some thought about the future. |
Anonymous
| It 100% depends on the college. DC attends WASP and they say they do not care, but putting Computer Science and neuroscience dings your application. Niche humanities majors can give you a big boost if the college is particularly interested (ours gives a massive boost to Classics and English majors). |
Anonymous
You don't really apply by major at UVA. You apply to a college. You may give an intended major, but you aren't held to it. |
Anonymous
| The advice offered in this thread is excellent. |