Indecisive Major.

College Majors
1

Hello! I am applying to all the UC schools and USC, but I am unsure of what major I should apply as. Until this summer I wanted to be a Computer Science Major. Now, I want to apply as Human bio as a pre med student. My issue is that I didn’t take any of the AP Life Science classes like AP Chem or AP Bio and fear that if I apply as Human Bio, the admissions officer will question it. I am debating between applying as cognitive science, math, linguistics + Com sci, or Human Bio. What would be the best choice for me? Or does my major choice even matter?

Here are my stats:
SAT: 1400 (retaking it in Oct)
SAT SUBJECT: US history - 700 Math - taking in Nov
GPA: Weighted: 4.07 (I know its not very good)
Unweighted: 3.63
UC/CS: 3.66

AP/HNR CLASSES:
Algerbra 2 Honors
Math Analysis Honors
English 10 Honors
Physiology Honors

AP European History
AP US History
AP Calculus AB
AP Computer Science
AP English Language
AP Physics (this year)
AP Calculus BC (this year)
AP Economics (this year)

2

Pay attention to whether any of your possible majors is difficult to change into later at each campus. If so, you may want to consider applying for admission to that major for frosh admission. However, in some cases, this may mean a higher admissions threshold without consideration of admission to the school in an alternate major.

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/freshman-admission-matrix.pdf describes how intended major or undeclared at application may affect admission at various UCs.

3

With the majors I am considering, switching majors isn’t difficult. And all of the schools I am applying to except USC do not look at my major when deciding me, but I know that only applies to situations where I would have picked an easier major in order to get in. What I am trying to do isn’t that. I am trying to select the best major that represents my Transcript so that the person deciding to admit me doesn’t ask questions…

4

^I think you’re overthinking this.

Admissions officers realize that the people applying to their colleges are largely 17-18 years old and don’t have their entire lives planned out. Lots of people figure out their major in their senior year - or even better, in college. Lots of people change their mind (sometimes more than once) between junior year and sophomore year of college. Your high school classes don’t have to match up perfectly with what you say your major is going to be.

So just apply however you want.