Understanding Undeclared

Last updated Apr 8, 2024

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It starts early, the questions: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Soon, you’re in high school—picking classes and researching colleges—and everyone from counselors, to parents, and perhaps most importantly yourself is asking, “What are you going to major in at college?” And…you have no clue. That’s okay! As a teenager, you’re still figuring out who you are, so figuring out what you want to study in college, and ultimately what career to pursue, can be a challenge. You might worry about things like the difficulty level of certain majors or the salary prospects post-graduation. Most of all, you may be scared you’ll make the wrong choice and suffer the consequences.

It’s natural to stress over such a big decision and to find that the right choice for you is to not make a decision right away; you’d rather apply to and attend college as an undecided or undeclared major, instead. For those considering the undecided route, read on for our advice.

Applying as Undeclared

One of the most exciting things about heading off to college is a chance to be more independent—to make your own decisions. You’re signaling to yourself and your college that you intend to explore some more before deciding on a major. You’re probably wondering if not declaring a major will negatively impact admissions decisions. The answer is complicated: it can put you at disadvantage, but it doesn’t have to. First, some schools may make it difficult for students to switch majors or require applicants to apply to specific programs within the college or university. To sidestep these disadvantages, students applying as undeclared should keep in mind the following advice:

Develop a college list that includes good fit schools for students with undeclared majors. A good fit school is one that offers all of the majors that interest you, the flexibility to switch between majors, and an academic advising program that has a record of helping students identify resources and explore majors while still staying on track to meet degree requirements. The best schools for undeclared majors are those with programs specifically for students who have not decided on a major. Drexel University, for example, has a First-Year Exploratory Studies Program. Other schools, such as Brown University, allows students to pursue “a personalized course of study” called the Open Curriculum. So, as you’re narrowing down your college list, be sure to review any information on a school’s website about programs and services for undeclared students.
Submit college applications that tell your story and share everything you have to offer. Make it clear to colleges that you have no intention of making undeclared mean you don’t have goals, interests, talents, and drive. Tell your story and build up a picture of yourself through your transcripts, resumes, portfolios, and essays of someone whose achievements and experiences not only make you unique, but unique in a way that demonstrates you would be an asset to the school. Essays, in particular, should help an admission committee not just understand but appreciate why you’ve chosen to apply as an undeclared student. For example, if you’re applying undeclared because you are passionate about both biology and criminal justice and have a transcript and accomplishments related to both areas, share those experiences using specific examples and illustrate your thought process in a way that makes your value clear.

Exploring Majors

Not declaring a major when you apply to college doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue to explore possible majors, narrowing down your options until you have a better idea what paths you might follow. Start with reviewing the activities and experiences you participated in during high school with an aim towards identifying experiences that made you feel energized, motivated, proud, confident, and curious. Also, consider why other experiences didn’t make you feel the same way. Then, begin exploring careers that relate to those positive experiences while also leaving yourself open to discovering unique majors, such as museum education and comic art. Make the most out of your summers by volunteering, getting a summer job/internship, or attending camps or summer enrichment programs that will give you an opportunity to get more in-depth and hands-on experience with your interests. Finally, if you are still undecided but want to choose a major that will give you a wide-range of career options after graduation, majors like business, computer science, liberal arts studies, psychology, and English are worth considering.

After You’ve Been Admitted

While exploring and narrowing your list of possible majors is a process that can occur before and after you get accepted to college, there are some specific steps you should take following your acceptance. One of the most significant steps you can take is to identify and take advantage of the resources your college offers. Your advisor and your college’s career center can connect you with the right information, people, and experiences to help you clarify what you want to do. Help can be found inside the classroom as well. Specifically, by taking a range of classes and speaking to instructors (professors, teaching assistants, etc.), you can learn whether a subject is something you find worthwhile and more about what it’s like to study and work in a particular field, including opportunities to go deeper outside the classroom. Beyond the classroom, clubs and jobs can provide even more insight.

Another invaluable resource is you. When you engage in introspection through career surveys or dialogue with others, you can get a better understanding of what suits you from those who know you best—yourself and those you care about and trust. So, seek out friends and family who have walked the same path of discovery or worked/studied in one of the fields you’re considering, and share your questions and concerns to relieve some stress and get some ideas. Take personality and career inventories, too. You may have done so before, but it can be helpful to revisit these types of surveys as your perspective changes. For some suggestions and other advice, check out a recent article about career exploration.

How A+ Can Help

Growing is a process, and as an undecided or undeclared major you can give yourself more time to figure out what major you want to pursue. By following our advice about how to apply as undecided and how to explore and choose a major, you will be able to not only successfully transition from high school to college, but also from college to your career. A+ Test Prep and Tutoring can help you along that journey both through our College Admissions Coaching services and our College Essay and Editing services. Don’t let indecision stop you from achieving your potential.

At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our practices are based on the latest developments in educational theory and research. We have an excellent team of tutors who can help you with standardized testing, executive functioning, or achievement in any other school subject. If you want to find out more about our services, contact us here.

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