--- title: What is a college major (and why does it matter for admissions)? description: Learn how your college major influences your degree type, career path, and application process. Get tips on standing out in competitive majors. image: https://admitreport.com/hubfs/What%20is%20a%20Major%3F.jpg --- [Think you can get into a top-10 school? 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Examples](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#bad-personal-statement-examples) Types of Supplemental Essays [Why Us](https://admitreport.com/blog/why-this-college-essay) [Diversity Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/diversity-essay) [Community Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/community-essay-examples) [Academic Interest Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/academic-interest-essay) [Why This Major Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/why-this-major-essay-examples) [Challenge Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-challenge-essay-examples) [Extracurricular Supplemental Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurricular-activities-essay) Supplemental Strategy [Writing About Strengths](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-a-college-essay#goal-1-write-persuasively-about-your-strengths) Our College Essay Philosophy [Creating a Cohesive Application Narrative](https://admitreport.com/blog/cohesive-application) [Writing Vulnerably](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-for-colleges) [Strengths-Based Writing](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-a-college-essay#goal-1-write-persuasively-about-your-strengths) Writing Techniques [Brainstorming a College Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/college-essay-brainstorming-questions) [Drafting a College Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-a-college-essay#how-to-draft-a-common-app-essay) [Revising a College Essay](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-a-college-essay#how-to-edit-a-common-app-essay) Personal Statement ["Great" Example Essays](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#the-best-personal-statement-examples) ["Good" Example Essays](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#good-personal-statement-examples) ["Bad" Example Essays](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-statement-examples#bad-personal-statement-examples) Supplemental Essays [Why Us Examples](https://admitreport.com/blog/why-this-college-essay) [Diversity Supplemental Examples](https://admitreport.com/blog/diversity-essay) [Extracurricular Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurricular-activities-essay) [Academic Interest Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/academic-interest-essay) [Community Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/community-essay-examples) [Why this Major Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/why-this-major-essay-examples) [Challenge Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/personal-challenge-essay-examples) School-Specific Supplementals [Harvard Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/harvard-supplemental-essays) [Yale Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/yale-supplemental-essays) [Stanford Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/stanford-supplemental-essays) [USC Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/usc-supplemental-essays) [Dartmouth Supplementals](https://admitreport.com/blog/dartmouth-supplemental-essays) [All Supplemental Essays](https://admitreport.com/blog/tag/supplementals) Activities Descriptions [Writing Activities Descriptions that Stand Out](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurricular-activities-essay) Admissions Office Communications [Finding Your Admissions Officers](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-an-email-to-a-college-admissions-office-sample#contacting-your-admissions-counselor-vs-the-admissions-office) [Emailing an Admissions Office](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-write-an-email-to-a-college-admissions-office-sample) [Preparing to Apply](https://admitreport.com/how-to-apply-to-college) Preparation Pathways Extracurricular Activities Academic Basics Testing Admissions 101 Grade-Based Timelines [First-Year Timeline](https://admitreport.com/blog/first-year-timeline) [Sophomore Timeline](https://admitreport.com/blog/sophomore-timeline) [Junior Timeline](https://admitreport.com/blog/junior-timeline) [Senior Timeline](https://admitreport.com/blog/senior-timeline) International Students [How to Apply as an International Student](https://admitreport.com/blog/applying-to-college-as-an-international-student) Extracurriculars in Admissions [How Admissions Officers Evaluate Extracurriculars](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurriculars-and-college-admissions) [How to Find Authentic Extracurriculars](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-organically-find-your-extracurricular-interests) [Basic Extracurricular Pathways](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurricular-pathways) [Extracurricular Magnitude and Impact](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurricular-magnitude-and-impact) [Leveling Up Your ECs](https://admitreport.com/blog/leveling-up-your-extracurriculars) [Crafting ECs by Combining Interests](https://admitreport.com/blog/craft-amazing-extracurriculars) [Passion Projects](https://admitreport.com/blog/passion-project-ideas) GPA [How Admissions Officers Evaluate Extracurriculars](https://admitreport.com/blog/extracurriculars-and-college-admissions) [Unweighted vs. Weighted GPA](https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/15ehsq5/aos_dont_want_you_to_know_this_one_weird_fact/) [Assessing Your GPA & Admissions Chances](https://admitreport.com/blog/50-thousand-applications) [Class Rank](https://admitreport.com/blog/academics-gpa) Course Work [Course Rigor](https://admitreport.com/blog/do-colleges-care-about-ap-scores) SAT & ACT [How Admissions Officers Evaluate Standardized Test Scores](https://admitreport.com/blog/what-does-test-optional-mean#how-do-admissions-officers-evaluate-my-test-scores) [Test-Optional Admissions](https://admitreport.com/blog/what-does-test-optional-mean) AP & IB Tests [Do AP & IB Tests Matter in Admissions?](https://admitreport.com/blog/do-colleges-care-about-ap-scores) [When to Send Your Scores](https://admitreport.com/blog/senior-timeline) Types of Institutions [Liberal Arts College](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#liberal-arts-colleges) [Private University](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#highly-selective-private-institutions) [State University](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#large-state-schools) [Community Colleges](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#community-colleges) How Applications are Reviewed [How Applications are Reviewed](https://admitreport.com/blog/50-thousand-applications) [The Job of the Admissions Officer](https://admitreport.com/blog/reading-5k-essays-in-a-top-15-admissions-office) [What is the Committee?](https://admitreport.com/blog/50-thousand-applications#the-third-trial-committee-recommendations) [Your Application Strategy](https://admitreport.com/application-strategy) Navigating the application College Application Strategy College Research Building Your College List Application Materials Common Application Guide [How to Use the Common Application](https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/owlhkp/my_giant_guide_to_to_the_common_app_what_is_it/) [Common Application Essay Prompts](https://admitreport.com/blog/common-app-essay-examples#the-2022-2023-common-application-essay-prompts) Applying to International Schools [A Guide to Applying as an International Student](https://admitreport.com/blog/applying-to-college-as-an-international-student) Our Strategy Philosophy [Creating a Cohesive Narrative](https://admitreport.com/blog/cohesive-application) [How Admissions Offices Process Applications](https://admitreport.com/blog/50-thousand-applications) College-Specific Application Guides [Harvard](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-get-into-harvard) [Stanford](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-get-into-stanford) [Yale](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-get-into-yale) [MIT](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-get-into-mit) [USC](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-get-into-usc) [See the full list](https://admitreport.com/blog/tag/application-strategy) Tools & Resources [Demonstrated Interest](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-show-demonstrated-interest) [How to Use the Common Data Set](https://admitreport.com/blog/common-data-set) Visiting Colleges [When to Visit Colleges](https://admitreport.com/blog/touring-colleges#ways-to-visit-college-campuses) Resources [Common Data Set](https://admitreport.com/common-data-set) [Colleges That Change Lives](https://ctcl.org/) School List Basics [How to Build the Perfect School List](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list) [Safety Schools](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#what-is-a-safety-school) [Target Schools](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#what-is-a-target-school) [Reach Schools](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list#what-is-a-reach-school) Early Decision Strategy [Early Action vs Early Decision](https://admitreport.com/blog/early-action-vs-early-decision) [How to Pick Your ED](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-strategize-your-early-decision-application) [Early Decision II](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-strategize-your-early-decision-application#what-s-the-strategy-for-ed-ii-schools) Letters of Recommendation [Teacher Letters](https://admitreport.com/blog/letters-of-recommendation-for-college) [Counselor Letters](https://admitreport.com/blog/letters-of-recommendation-for-college) [How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation](https://admitreport.com/blog/letters-of-recommendation-for-college#how-to-get-the-best-letters-of-recommendation-possible) School Report [What Is a School Report?](https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/comments/vz09mf/the_document_in_every_application_most_students/) [All Resources](https://admitreport.com/blog) [College Consulting](https://sierraadmissions.com/) [About Us](https://admitreport.com/about-us) [![](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/admit-report-logo-black.svg)](https://admitreport.com/) [College Essays](https://admitreport.com/college-essays) [Preparing to Apply](https://admitreport.com/how-to-apply-to-college) [Your Application Strategy](https://admitreport.com/application-strategy) [All Resources](https://admitreport.com/blog) [College Consulting](https://sierraadmissions.com/) [About Us](https://admitreport.com/about-us) ###### Contents Last updated August 29, 2023 Every piece we write is researched and vetted by a former admissions officer. Read about [our mission](https://admitreport.com/standards) to pull back the admissions curtain. [Blog](https://admitreport.com/blog) > [Application Strategy](https://admitreport.com/blog/tag/application-strategy) > What is a college major (and why does it matter for admissions)? # What is a college major (and why does it matter for admissions)? Admissions officer reviewed by [Ben Bousquet, M.Ed](https://admitreport.com/about-us) Former Vanderbilt University Written by [Kylie Kistner, MA](https://admitreport.com/about-us) Former Willamette University Admissions ###### Key Takeaway Choosing a college major is a critical part of the college journey. Your major influences your degree type, career path, and application requirements. Popular majors have high competition, so take relevant high school courses and extracurriculars to stand out. Don't apply for a less competitive major intending to switch later—it's unethical and often ineffective. When you go to college, you’re going to need to choose a major. For some schools, you have to choose a major before you even apply. "But what if I don't know what I want to do in the future?" you might ask. You’re not alone! Very few high schoolers know what they actually want to do with their lives when they apply to college. But deciding on a general pathway is an important step to choosing a college. In this post, we’ll walk through what a college major is and how your major affects your application process. Ready? ## What is a college major? A college major is an academic discipline you concentrate on during college. You become a college-educated expert in whatever field you study, and it’s the field you earn your degree in. If you're a biology major, for example, you'll spend most of your time studying biology. You'll learn everything about the subject to prepare you for a job in the field or more study at the graduate level. Many people go on to careers related to their college major, but a lot of people also have jobs completely unrelated to what they studied. There are thousands of major options out there. You’ve probably heard of many of the most common ones, like English, physics, history, engineering, or education. But college majors get a lot more specific—women and gender studies, astrobiology, environmental history, science and technology studies, and more. Some colleges even have the option for you to design your own major. When you get a bachelor’s degree, you need at least one major. Your major will likely determine the type of bachelor’s degree you earn. If you’re pursuing a more humanities-based major, you’ll probably get a Bachelor of Arts degree. If you’re majoring in a STEM field, you’ll likely get a Bachelor of Science degree. Every college and university has its own course requirements that you’ll have to fulfill if you want to major in that specific discipline. You’ll probably have to complete general education requirements as well as introductory, intermediate, and advanced coursework in your major. You may even have a capstone project or thesis to write your senior year. If you’re torn between two academic subjects, most colleges also allow you to double—or even triple!—major. In that case, you’ll need to fulfill the requirements for each of the disciplines you’re majoring in. ## How Your Intended Major Affects Your Applications Your intended major can play a big role in your college application process—especially at bigger universities or in competitive programs. First off, colleges and universities are often organized around majors. Each major has what’s called a “department” that all the faculty and students belong to. English majors, for example, would belong to the English department. At larger universities, departments are often organized into schools or colleges. Most English departments fall within the College of Arts and Sciences. If you want to be an English major, then you have to apply to the College of Arts and Sciences. (Note that these divisions are more common at larger universities and less common at smaller schools like liberal arts colleges.) Consider popular majors like engineering, business, and computer science. Often, these majors fall within a School of Engineering or a College of Business. Because these majors are popular, they get a lot of applicants. And since the applicants will all be vying for a limited number of spots in the major, the applicant pool can get really competitive. If you're applying to these types of majors, your application might be evaluated by faculty members from those departments. They tell the admissions office what they're looking for in applicants, so your application may even be held to a higher standard or require more specific coursework to be admitted. When you apply to a competitive major, admissions officers often want to see that you've taken [high-level courses](https://admitreport.com/blog/academics-gpa) in high school related to that major. They also like to see that you’ve been involved in related extracurricular activities. There are three takeaways here. 1. Depending on the kind of institution you’re applying to, your intended major may determine what school or college you apply to—be it the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, or something else. 2. If you’re applying to a very sought-after major like engineering or computer science, you’re going to have more competition. 3. The more you can make the [narrative of your application](https://admitreport.com/blog/cohesive-application) show that you’re a good fit for your major, the better. Now, what should you do if you want to apply to a competitive major? Is there a way to game the system? ## Should I Apply to a Less Competitive Major and Then Change? In short: no. Don't apply to a less competitive major planning to switch to your preferred major later. It might seem like a smart way to avoid competition, but it’s not a good option and doesn’t actually work. First, think about the ethics. It's dishonest, and admissions officers can generally spot it. Second, even if you ignore the ethics, this approach has practical problems. Many universities have strict rules about changing majors, especially into competitive programs. You might end up tracked into the major you applied to simply because you still aren’t able to transfer into the major you actually want to study. So if you’re interested in a popular major, build your [school list](https://admitreport.com/blog/how-to-make-a-college-list) accordingly, and plan a lot of good target and safety schools. ## TL;DR Choosing a college major, an academic field you focus on, is a critical part of your college journey and application process. Your major can influence your degree type, career path, and application requirements. Popular majors often have high competition. You can stand out among the applicant pool by taking relevant high school courses and extracurriculars. Don't apply for a less competitive major intending to switch later—it's unethical and often logistically ineffective. No matter your major, always think about creating a robust list of target and safety schools. ###### Liked that? Try this next. ###### [![post preview thumbnail](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/Power%20of%20a%20Cohesive%20College%20Application.jpg) The Incredible Power of a Cohesive College Application](https://admitreport.com/blog/cohesive-application) ###### [![post preview thumbnail](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/CDS%20Posts%20(15).png) Everything You Need to Know about Academics & GPA](https://admitreport.com/blog/academics-gpa) ###### [![post preview thumbnail](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/Join%20us%20on.png) 21 College Essay Examples (Graded by Former Admissions Officers)](https://admitreport.com/blog/college-essay-examples) ###### [![post preview thumbnail](https://admitreport.com/hubfs/CDS%20Posts%20(29).png) How to Write a Why This Major Supplemental Essay (with Examples)](https://admitreport.com/blog/why-this-major-essay-examples) ### Upgrade your college journey ###### Content [Admissions Guides](https://admitreport.com/admissions-guides) [Categories](https://admitreport.com) ###### Legal [Privacy Policy](https://admitreport.com/privacy) [Terms of Use](https://admitreport.com/terms) K&S Canon, PLLC 1200 5TH Ave Ste 1950, Seattle, WA, 98101-1183, United States Copyright © 2026 McNeil Admissions ### "The only actually useful chance calculator I’ve seen—plus a crash course on the application review process." Irena Smith, Former Stanford Admissions Officer We built the best admissions chancer in the world. How is it the best? It draws from our experience in top-10 admissions offices to show you how selective admissions actually works. [Get Chanced (We Dare You)](https://uq2z800a22f.typeform.com/to/GSbIvdW0) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Kylie Kistner, MA", "url" : "https://admitreport.com/blog/author/kylie-kistner" }, "dateModified" : "2023-08-29T17:00:00.689Z", "datePublished" : "2023-08-29T17:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "What is a college major (and why does it matter for admissions)?", "image" : [ "https://admitreport.com/hubfs/What%20is%20a%20Major%3F.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://admitreport.com/blog/what-is-a-college-major", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" }, "name" : "McNeil Admissions LLC" } } ```