By Kim, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor
Students often grapple with the decision about which major they will choose before they apply to college. Once they are at college — and often even after they graduate from college — they ask themselves, “Did I pick the right major?”
If we zoom out a bit, students are often also making a choice about which type of program they will pursue in college and will then choose a major within that program. Will they apply to the College of Arts and Sciences? Business? Engineering? Health sciences? The choices of school or college within an undergraduate institution can differ, but the point remains: How does a student know which one to apply to?
If you want to go into a specialized field like healthcare, law, veterinary medicine, and so on, entering a preprofessional program may seem like the obvious choice. But is it the best choice?
Sometimes students are tempted to choose a preprofessional track because it feels like the best way to secure a good career once they graduate from college. While that might make logical sense, it is not the best way to think about the question.
According to a 2017 study by the National Center for Education Statistics, at least 33% of students changed their major within three years of enrollment — one out of 10 students changed majors multiple times. Given this, I would encourage students to really think about how sure they are of their intended major and career plans.
If you’re vacillating between a couple of interests, choosing a preprofessional program might make it extremely hard to explore multiple areas while you figure it out. You will need to thoroughly research the school requirements and the amount of flexibility that is embedded in the program.
It’s worth remembering that you don’t have to pursue a specific major to get into many professional programs, so long as you complete the prerequisites to get into a professional program. Additionally, if you are not entirely sure about the preprofessional track, it is likely that this will show through in the application and essay responses. An admissions officer might save a spot for someone who is more likely to fully embrace that program.
If you are not entirely sold on a specific track, choosing the broader option, like a school of arts and sciences, would likely provide the most flexibility. Also, if you are concerned about getting a solid career after college, I would argue that perhaps more important than your major is how you spend your four years in college.
Preprofessional options are often more selective than broader options — if you are not 100% sure about the decision to apply to a preprofessional track, you would benefit most from the broad option.
Major CAN play a factor depending on the type of career you choose. So, if you are really interested in becoming an investment banker, consultant, or engineer, for example, you will need the education to back it up. This could mean adding another major down the line or filling your resume with the appropriate opportunities.
It is important to make this decision thoughtfully, but you don’t have to do it alone. IvyWise college admissions counselors have guided thousands of students through every stage of the college admissions process, including choosing their best-fit colleges and programs. Contact us today to learn how we can help you achieve your academic goals.
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