declaring a major

[missy]

When applying do you have to declare a major for ex engineering or government? If you do can you change your major once at the academy? Thanks

 

[Luigi59]

Cadets in their 3rd class (sophomore) year must apply for and be formally accepted into a major before departing on their 2nd class summer training.

You will list a "intended major" in your application but you are not held to it, you can change it before your 2/c year.

 

[missy]

Do you have a bteer chance of getting in with an engineering major or does it not matter?

 

[Luigi59]

The Academy's stated graduation goals include graduating at least 70% of the class with STEM (Science, Technology, and Engineering) majors.

For the Class of 2013, 76% of the admitted class aspire to an engineering or technical degree.

 

[zachogden]

While you don't formally declare a major till during/after 3/c year, you should have some idea of what you want to do before scheduling 3/c classes. For example, this upcoming semester I'm in two EE-specific classes and an additional two math classes only technical majors take, which makes switching majors (particularly switching into an engineering major from government or management) virtually impossible after a certain point despite having not formally declared yet. You'll have plenty of time to figure out what you do and don't like during 4/c year as you'll be taking an engineering class (SED), a government-type class (history), etc.

 

[LineInTheSand]

Generally you do not WANT to change your major after 3/c year because you've already taken some "major specific" classes during your 3/c year.

Example: If you're a Fish Kisser (Marine and Environmental Science) you take meteorology and marine biology your first semester 3/c year, however, you don't need both of those if you switch to, say, government. They do however remove your need to take oceanography.