One of the most appealing aspects of an American education is the idea that, at many schools, you need not commit to any course of study before the middle of sophomore year. Unlike British universities, for example, where students apply to a specific course of study, applicants to most American institutions will, at most, be asked to state one or two areas of academic interest. This is the very definition of “liberal arts,” a commonly misunderstood term in American colleges. This does not imply “progressive” or “not very good at science”; liberal arts MEANS the opportunity to explore academically before determining your focus. For more information, see how Princeton University defines “Liberal Arts” here.
College is a perfect time to broaden your mind and discover new ideas and interests. Liberal arts colleges and universities want students to roam broadly through an interdisciplinary reservoir of knowledge and find different lenses through which to examine questions that interest them with both rigor and discipline.
Many college applicants check the box that says they are “undecided” about an intended major because they are not ready to commit to a course of study. That is fine. However, don’t be afraid to indicate several disciplines of potential interest in your application. Many colleges will ask about your potential major, not to hold you to this choice during your time on campus, but rather to better understand your mind, and how you see different disciplines as connected.
Thinking about your major before you apply is important. Your chances of admission will not improve because you checked “Classics” rather than “Biology.” But, in your explanation of your choice, you give a college the opportunity to gauge your intellectual “sparkle.” Think of whatever you write about your possible major as a mirror in which a college can see academic qualities that are not exclusive to that major at all!
If you wish to persuade a college that you have intellectual depth and curiosity, you need to support your claim with action. Reading, learning from a part-time job, participating in research over the summer, and even engaging with your teachers beyond what a good grade requires, are all good ways to develop your academic narrative. And when you research colleges, you should spend as much time checking out the academic offerings of a school as you do the social life and the campus location.
The role of majors in applying to a pre-professional program
Some universities, and some majors, tend to offer more specialized training in subjects. For many of these disciplines you do, in fact, apply to a specific course of study in your application, and, in addition to the general requirements of the institution, you need to meet more specific demands in the admission process.
Engineering
Engineering is mostly offered by universities rather than by small colleges (with some notable exceptions). Verify that your chosen programs are fully accredited. Admission to these programs focuses heavily (though not exclusively) on depth and performance in your science and math classes in high school (Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) and to varying degrees on your STEM-focused standardized test scores (AP, SAT or ACT). As a prospective engineer, you will likely have to write an essay about your interest and commitment to the field. Once you are in college, it can also be very difficult to transfer into a demanding engineering program from anything other than a closely related major.
Studio and performing arts
When you apply to a BA or a BFA in music, musical theatre, theatre, film, dance, or studio arts, you often participate in a very different admission process that requires portfolios, auditions, and artistic resumes. You will need to have prepared for these months, if not years, in advance.
Health and medicine
You can pursue health professions such as nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy (even medicine in a very limited number of accelerated and extremely selective BS/MD programs) at the undergraduate level, applying as a first-year student. To be a strong applicant, you need to show strong math and science results in high school and a commitment to the medical field through related school, extracurricular, and summer activities.
Business
There are a few undergraduate colleges that focus solely on business (like Babson, Bryant, and Bentley). There are many universities with strong business programs (like Georgetown, New York University, Indiana and UPenn), which will offer their training in a separate College of Business within the larger institution. Colleges of Business will also have their own criteria through which to evaluate applicants, and this will usually call for a strong math performance and a resume of activities that showcases your aptitude for and interest in business. Please note: Colleges of Business within larger universities are often more selective than the university’s overall published admission rate.
Architecture
Students who are interested in architecture can pursue it through a four-year undergraduate program in Architectural Studies offered by many liberal arts colleges (followed by rigorous training at the graduate level), or by applying to a five-year B.Arch degree (such as that offered at Cornell and CalPoly), or through a six-year combined B/M. Arch degree (offered by Rice, Yale, WashU and others). It is important to verify that your chosen institutions are accredited. In addition to a strong preparation in math and physics, these programs may also require an art portfolio.