<p>when colleges ask yo on the app. to write your major, (and obviously it's easier to get in with an obscure major), when you get in, do you have to stick with that major then transfer or it has no effect? You go to college like everybody else? Then why dont people write east asian sutdies or communications in all prospective major?</p>
<p>No, you don't have to stick with it. A good percentage of students switch majors after freshman year.</p>
<p>But putting down East Asian Studies with the intent of going into Mechanical Engineering would be dishonest. Your karma would take some serious damage (gasp).</p>
<p>b/c those are actually popular majors :b</p>
<p>You have the option of changing your major at any time, so you don't have to commit to a major if you find that you don't like it. I don't think that most majors will affect your chances of admission; that may be the case with engineering and business, but you still have the option to be considered for another major even then.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But putting down East Asian Studies with the intent of going into Mechanical Engineering would be dishonest. Your karma would take some serious damage (gasp).
[/quote]
I agree. You should really just apply to the major you want in the first place, because you just might get accepted. If you don't, it will mess up your schedule and you'll find that you might not graduate on time, but that's the worst case scenario.</p>
<p>So the speaker at my JHU info session was like,
"By the time they graduate, 57% of our students switch their majors..." (no surprise there) "...four or more times."</p>
<p>O___O</p>
<p>Actually, the information on this thread is a bit misleading. Typically, if you apply to a liberal arts college, then you are not committed to the major you write on your application form. Many a budding biologist has ended up focusing on philosophy instead, and economics majors can end up studying art history. At such schools, you usually have until the end of sophomore year or start of junior year before you have to choose. BUT ... at many colleges and universities you are admitted specifically to the department you selected on your application. Yes, you can certainly bail out if you hate your choice, but you can't necessarily move fluidly into the major that you do want, the way you can at a liberal arts college. You will first need to be admitted to that major, and--depending on its popularity, admission standards, and other requirements--you may or may not get your choice. </p>
<p>So don't assume that the major you put on your application isn't the one that you'll be expected to pursue because it really depends on where you're applying.</p>