<p>I am still a junior and I wonder about this. Does one need to express his interest in what he's going to apply for major when he applies for a college?</p>
<p>I have received pamphlets from a lot of schools and they have pages for those "undecided" applicants that had enrolled already.</p>
<p>I ask this is because I have done things in the past, in which I had put a ton of efforts in, does not match what I would do in the future (or major in). </p>
<p>I haven't done any actual application process, I wonder how this works?</p>
<p>The answer depends on the college. Most colleges will ask you your intended major in the supplemental section (if they use the common app), or somewhere in their college unique application. “Undecided” is always a choice. Some colleges ask for you to write a statement or essay on “why you are applying here and why did you choose this major”. This gives you a chance to elaborate on the discrepancy between HS interests and college major. Often you can incorporate some explanation into your general essay.</p>
<p>However, colleges understand that most people do not have single narrow interests (or they may actually have less interest in those people that do). They are hoping that you will bring to the college your enthusiasm that you expressed in HS, in addition to achieving your intended major. For example, an english major may have spent a significant amount of time fundraising for his favorite cause. Or an engineering major may have spent all her EC time in band. </p>
<p>You might look around for an activity that allows you to further investigate the major you are thinking about, in addition to continuing your current passions. This would give you something to say in a “why x” statement, and might provide you some insight. But the general rule applies - do what you love (and find something you love to do)!</p>
<p>You certainly don’t need to express interest in a certain major when applying to colleges. There’s nothing wrong for the activities you do to not match what you want to do in the future. It’s perfectly normal. I think the best thing to do throughout your application is to present yourself honestly.</p>
<p>Most colleges say they don’t consider your intended major in admissions decisions for several reasons. First, they’re trying to put together the strongest class overall, not fill quotas for particular departments. Second, in most cases you don’t need to declare a major until the end of your sophomore year, and many people are quite appropriately undecided until they sample some courses in various fields. Third, even those applicants who think they know what they want to major in often chage their minds—up to 80% change majors at least once by the time they’re through college, I’m told. </p>
<p>But there are some exceptions and qualifications to this. First, if you wax on eloquently about how your primary academic interest is something they just don’t offer, they may decide you’re not a good “fit”; conversely, if you are in fact passionately interested in one or more things they do offer and are either particularly strong in or are looking to build up, it may make you somewhat more attractive. (As an example of the latter, Wesleyan has recently made major investments in science labs and science faculty, and their Director of Admissions flatly told us he was especially interested in finding prospective science majors to help build up the program). Second, for some programs, e.g. engineering, you really do need to start in your freshman year, and at larger universities you may need to apply to a separate School of Engineering. And third, having some reasonably well developed academic interests—whether a single area or a suite of areas—that you’re strongly interested in and beginning to explore on your own demonstrates a kind of intellectual curiosity and academic seriousness that admissions committees may find appealing, and it may set you apart from a boatload of other smart kids they’re looking at. </p>
<p>But I agree with dchow08^; it’s best to be honest. If you don’t know, say so. If, like my D (also a junior), you’re seriously interested in Classics, modern languages and literature, political science, philosophy, and theater and just can’t decide among them, say so. If you think you’d like to explore X but are not yet totally committed to it, say so. They’re looking for authenticity, not a bunch of b.s. that you put into the application because you think it will impress them.</p>