<p>Hey guys.
On the Common App, where it asks for your possible academic concentration/major, is this where we put our major?</p>
<p>I'm undecided, but I'm leaning towards something in East Asian Studies/Japanese/History. I know if I specify this, it'll help me in regards to admissions because my whole app is centered around some Japan stuff (including some study-abroad). However, I don't want to restrict myself to this major.</p>
<p>Aren't we supposed to specify our major (or undecided) right now? Or do we pick a major when we're accepted and such?</p>
<p>I feel that the "possible" implies that it won't be set in stone, but I was a little worried too. I think that once a person is accepted into college the major is officially declared.</p>
<p>In most colleges you don't declare your major until your second or third year. They are not going to hold you to the major you put as possible in your application, it is just to guage interests, so they don't have a whole class of possible English majors. Just remember that a large percentage of people end up changing their majors at least once. That section isnt' that important, put down what you are thinking at the moment or undecided. It won't hurt you, unless you have to apply for a specific program within the school that requires an early declaration.</p>
<p>Thank god.
Scarlet, you said it won't hurt you, but do you think it could help me?</p>
<p>I got a recommendation from my Japanese teacher, my highest grades are in Japanese, I studied abroad in Japan, among other things. Also in the common app "what is your most meaningful 150 word" question, I talked about the study-abroad program in Japan. </p>
<p>So I indicated the possible major as "Other: Japanese, East Asian Studies." I do think I will pursue Japanese/East Asian Studies, but I thought it would help, too.</p>
<p>In general I don't think it will help too much. But in your case, because you have shown so much outside interest in the field it might. </p>
<p>Generally a high percentage of people change majors. Admissions officers know this. Some people think they can get an advantage by putting down a really obscure major and hoping they are the only one and therefore would get a boost. </p>
<p>I'm not sure how much if at all it would help you. But I'd have to think that Japanese/ East Asian studies is not a hugely popular major and that by showing so much interest in it, it would look well on you. So I think all that interest could definitely help you, probably not the major as much- it is something quite unique and should make you stand out.</p>
<p>Yeah I'm going to some of the games. At least the ones in Munich. I'm not the world's biggest soccer fan though. There should at least be some good parties.</p>