When I pose this exploratory question to a college applicant, some students provide a binary answer while others ask me: Does it matter? Do I have to choose? What if I like both math and writing? They worry that declaring a love for one precludes an interest in the other.
Here are some of my thoughts:
If You Know, Tell
I was just Zooming with a student who said, “I want to work for NASA.” This applicant has taken advanced level physics and math classes as well as spent the last two summers in engineering programs or interning at organizations that reflect his commitment for space exploration. “I want to go to the moon,” he said. “Or help design spacecrafts that can travel to unknown planets.” Both his specificity within a field – this is what I want to do – and his openness to various paths within that field – if I can’t do this, I’ll do that – make him an interesting candidate to undergraduate mechanical or aerospace engineering programs.
If You Don’t Know, Don’t Pretend You Do
I can spot a faker almost at first sight. This is a student who’s telling me what they think colleges want to hear: I want to study X (pre-med, compsci, business) and become Y (a doctor, a software engineer, an entrepreneur) with that degree. When I look at those students’ transcripts or activities and see no supporting academic or extracurricular evidence of these career paths, I ask the applicant to tell me what’s on their mind. Often, they’ll admit that they’ve heard it’s easier to get into a good college if they show direction hence choosing a lane to slot into. I advise students to lean into their curiosity, even if they have multiple, diverse interests versus a specific one.
Undecided is a Respectable Major
Some students proudly tick the Undecided Major box while others are nervous about it. Not knowing how you want to spend your four years of higher education while still in high school is normal. Colleges don’t penalize Undecideds. I ask my students to be honest with themselves; it’s better to be Undecided than to be locked into a program that could possibly make you miserable.
Many applicants know what they want to study in college, and many don’t; even if you feel like the odds are against you if you’re one of the latter, please know that I’ve seen it all. You’re never wrong when you’re honest about your interests so communicate that sincerity in your essays.
JUL