<p>I'm a Senior in high school, and I'm currently starting the whole application process this week (I feel like I'm late for some reason), and I keep stressing myself out over little things already. I'm still unsure on what exactly I want to major in, but I'm applying to colleges that have a large variety of majors to be safe. </p>
<p>At first I really wanted to go into Graphic Design (Others consider me as very skilled with art), because my family has always encouraged me to do something with art and I thought it would be a great career. But I'm still hesitant about it for some reason, which is why I think I want to go to a normal university that offers Graphic Design, aside from a normal art school. Other "backup" majors that I had in mind included Communications, Accounting, or something like Computer Science. </p>
<p>So do applications normally ask what I plan to major in? Is it okay if I choose to change it?</p>
<p>(Sorry if it seems like I'm rambling, there's just so much on my mind)</p>
<p>Colleges come in two forms. Majority require you to specify a major but the majors include one called “undecided” (or similar term) which is for those who do not want to commit yet. Others do not have you choose a major. So generally you can apply to almost any college without actually specifying a major.</p>
<p>If you actually choose a major, you can attempt to switch at a later time, often after first year. How easy it is to change depends on college and your grades. At many colleges it is very easy to switch; at others it can be more difficult. Likewise, if you apply and are admitted undecided, it may, after a semester or year, be easy to switch to an actual major but you could find at many colleges that some particular majors are not that easy to switch into. Example could be one that could impact on you. If the university is broken down into colleges, such as one for arts and sciences, one for engineering, one for business, one for art, theater and music, etc. you could face a situation where, if admitted undecided you are automatically assigned to the arts and sciences college and then it may not be very easy to switch to the art, music and theater college which has a graphic design major. In other words, learn what you can about what it would mean for being able to switch into a major later if you apply undecided at any particular university you are considering.</p>
<p>Drusba pretty much covered the answer to your question.</p>
<p>I just wanted to add in that it’s a good thing to explore your career path now, and not wait until later. One of the mistakes that several of my friends made was thinking that you can always decide later, which you can. But do you really want to decide later? They realized that they want to graduate from a college that is known for their major. For example, my sister went to a UC as “undeclared” and later declared Business as her major, but the UC she went to wasn’t academically known for their business department. She felt she could have went to a better college for that is academically known for business with better cost, better business classes, college programs or societies that help business students, etc. There’s the option to transfer colleges, but that’s a whole different process on its own and isn’t guaranteed. So I recommend choosing a college you will be satisfied with from the start.</p>
<p>One of the things to consider is that some colleges’ departments are academically known across the nation. For example, USC is recognized for their film department and engineering department, which will look good on a resume for film students and engineering students. Please don’t think that their other departments aren’t good. What I’m trying to say is that if you know the major that you want to go in, you can better select the right college for you, in whatever career that you want.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is that many students don’t graduate with the major that they first declare as a freshman. Some of my friends regret changing so much major because it delayed their graduation date.</p>
<p>So my questions are:
Do you want to apply for a college that best fit you academically?
How fast do you want to graduate?</p>
<p>You don’t have to answer them, but just keep in mind of it. Good luck on the college application process!</p>