<p>If you are an 'undecided' major, does that put you at a disadvantage during the admission process? Even at IVY's? Is a school more likely to admit someone who knows what they want to do and is goal oriented in that direction?</p>
<p>I posed this question to an admissions counselor at the University of Michigan, since my d was applying as “undecided”. She told me it would have no adverse effect on her application at all. So Michigan does not see it as a negative apparently. I don’t know anything about any other schools.</p>
<p>Well, someone who HAS an intended major usually has ECs and whatnot that demonstrate their passion for that subject, which definitely helps.</p>
<p>Though, being “undecided” is also the same as, let’s say, a journalism major who has done nothing to show their passion for writing.</p>
<p>So, being “undecided” doesn’t hurt you, but it sure can’t help you.</p>
<p>I put undecided on all my applications.</p>
<p>Got into Yale SCEA, UNC out of state, and got a likely letter from Dartmouth.</p>
<p>So no, I don’t think it hurts.</p>
<p>I put undecided for UCLA but got Regent’s scholarship candidacy. For Yale, I knew they wouldn’t bind you to what you put on your app so I put Psychology. </p>
<p>I can’t say. I believe some schools would, and others would not. Depends on the school I suppose.</p>
<p>if u do not put undecided, then u will be judged against other kids who have checked the same box as u.</p>
<p>^ And I agree with that.</p>
<p>They’re not expecting you have your entire future mapped out. Undecided is perfectly fine- just decide by your sophomore year.</p>
<p>My d applied as undecided and got a full tuition scholarship to Michigan. She had a lot of ECs btw.</p>
<p>I asked myself the same question not too recently and I ended up saying, “If a college is going to reject me because I don’t have my future mapped out in advance as a 17-year-old, I don’t want to go to that school.” And then I put “Undecided” on everything.</p>
<p>wouldn’t puting undecided be easier to go to a top school like UPENN for Wharton since getting to Wharton is extremely hard compared to other schools at UPENN?</p>
<p>My twin sister and I have an interesting situation - we both applied for scholarships at a state school. She put undecided, I put biology. I’m really just as undecided as my twin, but put down my current favorite class. We have identical GPA’s, almost identical ec’s. I was accepted, she wasn’t. My counselor speculates that the admissions people wanted a quick way to cut down numbers, and chose a girl interested in science (atypical, for my state…) over one of the many undecideds. So, putting down a general interest helps. I don’t have any experience in this area yet, but if your daughter is interested in a subject that is especially strong/famous at a school, it might help to put that subject down as a possible major/focus because it will show the school that she’s a good fit for them.</p>