How Colleges and Students Differ: Curriculum and Requirements

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Some students enter college with a clearly defined plan of study, while others are completely undecided. How should this play into your consideration of colleges? If you are interested in special programs (for example, engineering, dance, or business), it is important to determine who offers these subjects. It makes no sense to apply to a college that does not have the program you want. However, you also need to remember that the average student switches majors at least once before graduation. Ideally, you want to look for colleges that offer the kinds of programs that fit your interests, as well as the flexibility of being able to switch fields if your interests change.

Some schools offer special “dual degree” programs that allow students to obtain a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree in less time than it would take if the two were pursued separately. These programs can be attractive to students with focused career objectives. In dual B.A.-M.D. programs, for example, a student receives both degrees at the end of seven years, dual B.A.-J.D. programs can be completed in six years, and dual B.A.-M.B.A. programs take just five years. These programs generally save a year of both time and tuition. Similar programs exist for B.A.-M.A. programs in some fields at some schools. Smaller colleges offering these programs usually have cooperative arrangements with a university that offers graduate degrees, while large universities may offer both parts themselves. In either case, being accepted to a dual program means that if you do well, you won’t have to endure a second admissions process to achieve your educational goals.

Picking a Major

A student majoring in a particular field must take a certain number of credits in that field and in related fields to help build knowledge and skills in that subject. Some specific courses will usually be required for everyone in that major, while other courses are electives, which means that you can choose which courses to take from a large array. At some schools, you can declare a minor, or a concentration in a different field requiring fewer credits. Double majors (and occasionally triple majors, for the very energetic) are sometimes possible, and some schools allow students to create their own custom majors.

They’re so right about freshmen changing their majors. I’ve changed from electrical engineering to computer science to pre-dental to political science—and I’ve only been here a semester. - Undecided freshman at a research university

Be aware that some colleges, selective or otherwise, require you to declare your general area of interest when you apply, especially if the major is very popular and the college could not meet the demand if the major were open to everyone. Such colleges may have higher admissions requirements for students interested in some majors than for those interested in others. If you are admitted to that college but not to a specific major, it may be difficult if not impossible to switch later.