Deciding on Majors/Interests

I’m applying to Yale Early Action, and I’m having trouble figuring out what is the most effective way to clarify my interests in terms of majors in the application.

There are three lines for interests: one is your primary interest, and the next two are “other interests.” I’m currently undecided. Should I list all three lines as undecided? That seems vague to me, especially since I know that I have interests in engineering, computer science, and art (of course, these all having very specific areas and being very different from each is difficult to categorize as well). Alternatively, should I list the first as undecided and the next two as certain majors? This seems like I’m backing out of decisions that I should be making. I have no real idea whether my selection of interests will affect my application.

In addition, if this helps with any advice, I believe that it is a bad idea for me to list engineering as my first choice, as then I will have to fill out the engineering essay. While I do a lot of science related extracurriculars, I haven’t done anything specifically engineering until this year (because of time constraints, but bad decisions on my part) and I personally feel as if the essay will be very weak.

tl;dr how should I structure the “intended majors” section of the Yale app to best fit my needs and chances of getting in?

As another note: I can write an essay about engineering if I wished. It would just be about much less structured activities - for example, I have a small hobby of taking things apart and putting them back together. I sometimes build small contraptions out of craft materials like twine and popsicle sticks. For my art supplement I have removed the front wheels of a small toy car and reattached a printmaking roller to it, which I plan to use to make an abstract piece. (I will not be able to finish in time for early action, though.) These are all very basic things, however, so I don’t know if writing about them will help me or hurt me. What if it looks like I don’t have enough interest in engineering to be accepted?

Most HS students do not do formal engineering, they just take strong math/science courses. I think you would be fine and what you did actually sounds interesting to me.

You’re overthinking this. If one or two strongly stand out in your mind, list them. Or leave them all blank. It’s all the same to Yale. Trust me.

(Caveat: if you have an inclination for engineering – yale will want to see your essay. This can boost your chances if good. If not, maybe leave engineering off?)