Intended Major (Meaning, How-to, College Acceptance)

Choosing an intended Major in college is often the most essential and tough aspect of attending college.

Before getting admitted into college or already accepted into a college, you’ve most times if not always, been told what classes to take.

You are only allowed a few choices back in high school, but in college, the choice is all yours, starting from your choice of Intended Major.

Your major is at the core of your college education; however, knowing what you want to study is where the Intended Major steps in.

Table of Contents

What Does a Major Mean?

A major is a college course, the principal emphasis of your studies. Most of the college courses you offer will be part of your major.

After completing your degree program, you will graduate with a degree in your major, for instance, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

What does Intended Major mean?

An “intended major” is the subject or field a student plans to focus on or specialize in while attending college or university.

It’s what they intend to study, but they can often change it later if they decide on a different path.

When you apply for college, most colleges will ask for at least one intended major, and picking more than two Intended Majors is preferable.

When the time comes, you must declare one major from the several intended majors you put down on the application.

Whatever intended major you declare as your main major would determine the classes you would take, making the decision vital.

Moreover, making this decision usually poses a huge challenge to high school seniors and graduates, who feel pressured to make the right choice.

However, in most cases, your intended major is simply an intention to study a particular course.

What does an Undeclared Major mean?

An undeclared major, otherwise known as an undecided major, refers to when students have yet to declare a major. During this period, the students still maintain their intended major.

Until the students declare their major, their Intended Major remains undeclared.

When do you declare a Major?

What you must declare your major differs by the different colleges. Most colleges require that applicants declare their major after completing their sophomore year.

In colleges like Amherst College, majors such as neuroscience require that applicants submit a written plan of all courses they wish to offer.

Can I change my major?

In most situations, you can change your major, and many college students change majors throughout their studies, sometimes more than once.

Change your major before it’s too late, as you’ll still need to finish the prerequisites for your old major. However, this could delay your graduation.

Some institutions make it difficult to switch majors after you’ve declared, especially if the college has multiple schools and you plan to switch majors between them.

How To Choose An Intended Major

While choosing a major isn’t always required, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. When completing your university applications, consider the following:

1. What Interests You?

What do you genuinely enjoy doing? Do you read? Carry out experiments? Getting involved in sports activities? With the wide range of majors available, you will, without a doubt, find a major that complements your passion.

2. Your Profile:

What do your extracurricular activities and transcript say about you? You are most likely a STEM major if you attended AP science and math classes in high school and participated in scientific exams.

Whereas, if you’re an author who is good in humanities subjects and worked in your high school newspaper as an editor, creative writing could be your ideal intended major.

3. Your Longtime Professional Objectives:

You may not know your future, but you can influence it. While many don’t wind up doing what they planned or majoring in, your ambitions may assist you in choosing a major and a career path.

Remember that many majors, especially most humanities majors, can lead to multiple careers. Others, like engineering majors, take a more direct approach.

How does your Intended Major influence getting accepted into College?

Normally, your intended major won’t affect your probability of getting accepted into college too much, except if you apply to a particular college or program in a college that is specifically competitive.

Declaring a less difficult major in the hopes of switching back to your intended major once you’ve been accepted to college is usually not a good idea.

Often, switching within the college is optional, and you could virtually be reducing your probability of initial acceptance if your profile doesn’t match the intended simpler major.

On the other hand, while many schools do not publish records about internal switching acceptance rates, switching to tougher schools with lower acceptance rates is commonly challenging.

How do I prepare for an intended major

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to prepare for an intended major:

Step 1: Research the Major: Delve into its core subjects and potential career paths.

Step 2: Self-assessment: Reflect on your passions and assess how they align with the major.

Step 3: Relevant Coursework: Opt for high school or pre-college courses that provide foundational knowledge.

Step 4: Seek Guidance: Engage with school counselors or college advisors to get insights about the major.

Step 5: Hands-on Experience: Immerse in extracurriculars or internships in the field.

Step 6: Build Networks: Establish connections with students or professionals already in the discipline.

Step 7: Campus Visits: Explore colleges offering the major to understand the academic vibe.

Step 8: Gather Resources: Procure textbooks, online materials, or journals related to the major.

Step 9: Application Highlight: Ensure your college applications emphasize experiences and interests related to the major.

Step 10: Stay Informed: Regularly update yourself about industry news and advancements.

FAQs on Intended Major

What is an intended major?

An intended major is a field of study a student plans to specialize in while pursuing higher education. It represents a student’s primary academic interest but isn’t a final commitment; students can often change their major later.

Why do colleges ask for an intended major?

Colleges use this information to understand students’ interests and ensure they can offer relevant resources and support. It also helps institutions manage and allocate faculty and facilities for different departments.

Can I change my intended major after enrolling?

Many institutions allow students to change their major after enrollment, although the process and limitations vary by college.

Does selecting a certain intended major affect my admission chances?

Depending on the college and the competitiveness of specific departments, your choice might influence admission decisions. Some majors are more competitive than others, but choosing based on genuine interest is essential.

Conclusion

It would help to consider your intended major when researching the college you wish to enroll in.

College students usually pick their majors based on personal choices, money, hobbies, academic interests, or professional prestige.

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