<p>Im applying to colleges soon, however Im having trouble coming up with a list mainly due to the fact I have no idea what I want to study in college. Basically, im open to everything: all fields of engineering, computer science, medicine, business, politics. The only things I know I dont want to learn are the humanties (history, art, english). How can I compile a list of colleges without knowing what I want? I know I could simply find a list that of schools that offer all of those, and I could pick later, but Id really like to find a better way, but I dont know what that is yet. How can I know if I like medicine more than business, for example, before I learn both?</p>
<p>Look at schools that are strong overall. That way, no matter what you choose, you're covered. </p>
<p>You really don't need to try to decide now. The average college student changes their major 5 times anyway.</p>
<p>Choose a campus you like. That said, if you KNOW you're going to be engineering (of some kind) or sciences or humanities, that cna help you narrow the field.</p>
<p>You look like more of an engineering/sciences/polisci kid, from what you've mentioned. Almost any top 100 school will have good departments in all of those majors.</p>
<p>If you're not sure, it might be in your best interest to pick a LAC where it's relatively easy to change your major. If you go to Cornell or something similar, you could be changing entire schools, and credits don't always transfer very well. I would say go for what you can afford and what will be a good fit, atmosphere, and location for you. Rankings really aren't more than ink on paper in an annual junk publication that sells for $14.95.</p>
<p>So which schools specifically are strong in all the areas the OP mentioned (engineering, computer science, medicine, business, politics)? Or if it's easier, which top 100 schools are NOT strong in those?</p>
<p>Also, one thing you might want to take note of is the relative ease of switching majors and schools. And whether or not the school you indicate on the application is easy to transfer out of. For some colleges, like USC and Georgetown, you apply to a specific school within the college (such as Arts & Sciences, Business) so you HAVE to choose. And it would suck if that college made it really difficult transfer out after you decide the business school is not for you and you want the engineering school instead... (Can anyone comment on specific colleges' difficulty in switching schools/majors within the university?)</p>
<p>You should look at Tufts. They have strong programs in a lot of the areas that you listed. Also maybe check out Johns Hopkins. If you want to do a college search, try the Princeton Review's (on their website, just google it). I really like that one, it shows the school's percent fit with your preferences and won't take a school off your list just because it doesn't fit all of your criteria. I also don't know what I want to do, and that search has been good for me.
Another approach would be to think of where you want to go to school, where you would be most happy, and try to find a college based on that and other characteristics other than academics. I've found that that works, too.</p>
<p>Look at the best schools (USNEWS), they give you the liberty of majoring in almost anything and still being able to do anything. The best business jobs in finace and consulting primarily recruit from schools that don't even have business majors (HYPS, Dartmouth, Columbia, etc)!! My best friend from Dartmouth who was a history major is at Harvard med. Go with the best schools and then choose for fit.</p>
<p>In my opinion you want schools that are strong in a variety of majors such as USC (a huge one) and although you may apply to one school you can easily transfer out, my sisters friend did it so you should be fine, NYU is also good, Boston University, Loyola Marymount..well im from the west coast so i I don't know that much on the east. It depends on what region you want to be in too, there are great schools on both ends. I'm in the same position as you and thats why I like the schools I listed above. My suggestion is grab a copy of some college guide Fiskes or whatever may suit you and look under what majors the college is strong in. For example USC, has a variety of well known strong schools..I mean you got Marshall, Film School HELLO George Lucas ring a bell, and their engineering program is pretty up there too if I'm not mistaken..And if the things that you ARENT interested in learning is humanities than in no way should you go to a liberal arts college because thats what liberal arts is. I mean I myself want to go to one but I'm different than you. Say you started out doing science at some LAC and decided that you wanted to do business, you probably wont be finding a strong business program at a liberal arts school. I can be completely wrong since lmaaoo im only a college search rookie but this is what I commonly hear about LAC schools. Good luck with your search. Darnn that was a lONG post :D</p>
<p>I'd second a vote for Tufts and JHU.</p>
<p>Film is one of the few areas where program rank matters. For most people looking to go to grad school, get a top business job, or do well in politics its hard to pass up the top USNEWS schools.</p>
<p>Throw darts and apply.</p>
<p>Perhaps you need to take a year off and learn a little about yourself.</p>
<p>Look at career options and see if you enjoy any of them.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=377931[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=377931</a></p>
<p>I have a lot to say, but I don’t want to repeat myself all over again! :)</p>
<p>I hope that in that post I made it clear that you do not have to know what you want to study before you go to college. Don’t worry about that.</p>