<p>Everyone says you should know what you want to major in, and THEN look at universities/colleges based on the strength of their respective programs. But I have a lot of different interests/academic strengths and I would feel comfortable majoring in any of about six different fields. I like them all too much to narrow them down or eliminate a few. </p>
<p>Should I apply to colleges I like, then decide what to do based on the programs of the colleges that accept me? Should I go with the major that has the most lucrative career prospects? Should I choose a college with an open curriculum and triple major (if that's even possible)? What should I do?</p>
<p>(I'm a junior in high school, so I have time to figure all of this out.)</p>
<p>The vast majority of students change their majors once enrolled (a good friend of mine went from physics to math to geography with a math minor). </p>
<p>Also, a college which isn’t necessarily ranked as a top n department might have a wonderful program that may not become apparent to you until you enroll. For instance, my previous school, which is in no way known for environmental studies has outstanding opportunities in sustainability, environmental health, outdoors field work, etc. It usually doesn’t appear on the best programs for the field, but save for those with a geology interest, all of the ES majors I knew were thrilled with the program.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind though, not all universities have all majors. If you happen to have your heart set on a certain degree or major that is essential for your future, definitely check that out</p>
<p>If you have a lot of broad interests (and if you think you might be likely to change your mind as you get more experience), then I’d recommend going to a good school that’s pretty well-rounded across all of its departments. There will likely be some that are considered better than others, but it gives you options to explore different majors and programs that you might have not otherwise known or thought about.</p>
<p>At the undergraduate level, it’s not particularly important that you go to the best program for a particular field (especially given many of those rankings are based on the graduate programs not on the undergraduate programs, and there can be a difference), but just try to find a good school with a solid reputation that has a handful of the majors you’re looking at. One school may be ranked higher in a certain department than another, but both schools could give you a great education with good opportunities in your field. I’d also recommend taking a peak at different opportunities they have on or around campus for the areas that you’re interested in. For instance, if you’re interested in biology, going to a school surrounded by biotech companies may give you more opportunities than going to a school in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>Of course, it matters slightly. You want to pick a university based on that “feel” thing you’ve probably heard. It actually matters a lot. At one point in time, I was considering Engineering (definitely gave up that idea) and actually for me going to ASU would’ve been the best idea considering ranking. I still chose U of A because the vibe I got from ASU was all wrong. What matters is that the school you go to not only can offer you a great experience, but can provide you (or at east help you) career opportunities. My school has a great program for my current major, with a lot of connections for jobs. This matters a lot.</p>
<p>But rankings do matter. However, they should not be your MAIN reason to go to a school.</p>