Before we move on to discuss what colleges are looking for, we have one more aspect of knowing yourself to discuss: college majors.

To take the most strategic approach to college admissions, it's always best to start first with choosing the major you will declare. After reviewing the student's GPA (and test scores if they apply), admission counselors consider intended major next. More important than leadership opportunities, sports, and extracurricular commitments is whether or not that student has prepared for their intended major (either through advanced coursework in high school or summer programs/extra classes/clubs/etc.). Especially for more popular and selective colleges, admission trends are moving more towards admitting "pointy students" rather than "well-rounded" ones. Pointy being mostly determined by how deeply has that student been in pursuing increasingly focused opportunities within their intended major/intended field. Learn more about what it means to be a "pointy student" here.

For a strategic approach to making your college list, we suggest going in this order:

1) Determine your major

2) Research schools best suited for your specific major (some schools focus more on liberal arts while others focus more on business while others focus more on biology or engineering research).

3) Determine your preferred attributes and priorities in your college experience and research colleges using major and preferences as your lens.

4) Determine which colleges are likely, target, or reach

5) Create your college list

But what if you don’t know what major you want?

When choosing a major, it is beneficial to understand your strengths and interests. Selecting a major does not mean you will limit the career choices available to you after graduation. If you choose a major that you intrinsically enjoy, you are more likely to excel academically, you will be more motivated in the classes you take, and when it is time to start looking for a job or applying to graduate school you will be able to explain with enthusiasm why you chose your major and what you gained from doing so. On the other hand, if you know (or have some ideas about) what career path you’d like to follow after college, it can be beneficial to choose a major that will help you toward that goal. College majors do not limit you to a certain career. However, choosing a major that corresponds to your target career path can be advantageous in securing a job.

Choosing A Major: https://zety.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-major

College Major by Type: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/choosing-a-college-major-by-field-3570279

Naviance Tools - Choosing Your Major

Take a look at the Naviance assessments that can help guide you to choose your major.

We also offer a corresponding "Do What You Are" Handout as a reflection exercise after you take these assessments.

Choosing Your Major Reflection Exercise

Remember, determining your major is an integral first step to deciding which college to apply to. Most colleges’ biggest criteria for admissions is based on whether your profile is a strong fit for the major you’ve declared (does your academic profile, coursework & extracurriculars match and point towards your declared major?), and whether your profile is a strong fit for the kind of college that is.

Click HERE to access the "Determine Your Major" Worksheet

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