Should I Apply to College as Undecided?

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Shravya Kakulamarri in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

 

What’s Covered:

• When it Makes Sense to Apply Undecided
• Focus on Your Interests
• What are the Best Schools for Undecided Majors?
• Make a Decision Within Your First or Second Year
• Build a Balanced College List

 

 

When it Makes Sense to Apply Undecided

 

If you’re interested in multiple fields, and you’d like to give yourself the option to explore them without committing to required courses, we recommend applying undecided. When you commit to a major, you will need to start taking required courses. Exploring courses without a major declared will help you explore fields of interest without being stuck to the requirements of a particular major.

 

Focus on Your Interests

 

Although you might be applying undecided, it’s still a good idea to have a general idea of what you’re interested in going into the whole application process. This will help you write the “why college” application essay, or even like the “why major” essay. If you’re applying undecided, you don’t necessarily need to designate a specific major, but you’ll want to explain how your extracurriculars and high school experience translate to interests in majors that you might be interested in pursuing in college. This will also help you narrow down which subjects you would explore in your first few semesters.

 

What are the Best Schools for Undecided Majors?

 

If you do decide to apply to a college as undecided, look for schools that will allow you the freedom and flexibility to explore a variety of courses. We’ve actually narrowed down 10 great colleges for undecided majors to help you with this decision. Read this post to view the full list! 

 

Make a Decision Within Your First or Second Year

 

The more time you spend deciding on that major, the less time you’ll actually have to pursue it. This might require you to stay extra time at a college. Sticking around for more time will be expensive and also not too much fun, and you definitely wanna graduate with your friends! So, try to lock down that major earlier. 

 

Build a Balanced College List

 

Regardless of whether you are applying undecided or not, it’s important to have a balanced college list to maximize your chances of getting into a good fit school. A student should apply to 8-12 schools, with 25% being safety schools, 40% target schools, and 35% reach schools.

 

Your chances of acceptance are what make a school a safety, target, or reach. We’ve made it easy to figure out which schools fall into these categories with our free Admissions Chances Calculator. This tool will let you know your odds of acceptance, and give you tips on improving your profile.

 

You can also search for schools based on preferences like location, major, cost, and more. Give it a try to get a jumpstart on your college strategy.