Flexibility in changing majors

I'm starting to apply to colleges but I'm really not certain about the major I want to stick with. I've heard horror stories about students not being able to change their majors. Can anyone recommend colleges that are especially flexible when it comes to students wanting to switch majors?

Sure, it's not unusual for students to change their academic focus as they explore different fields of study in college. Most colleges do understand this need for exploration and flexibility, and allow students to switch majors relatively easily. However, the level of flexibility can vary.

Liberal arts colleges, such as Bates College, Amherst College, and Pomona College, are widely known for their flexible curricula. They allow students to explore a wide range of academic interests before choosing a major. These colleges don't require students to declare a major until the end of their sophomore year, giving students ample time to explore their interests.

Many large universities also offer a degree of flexibility. Examples include University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Texas at Austin. However, within these types of universities, it is often easier to switch majors within the same college (i.e., the College of Arts and Sciences) than to transfer to a different college (i.e., from the College of Arts and Sciences to the School of Engineering).

There might be exceptions in more specialized or competitive programs - for instance, an engineering or a business major at some universities may require an application process to switch into the program. A classic example is the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, which admits a limited number of students each year.

This said, it's advisable to contact each college's admissions, academic advising, or registrar's office to learn more about their policies and any limitations on switching majors. Lastly, when trying to figure out what you want to study, you might find it helpful to seek out opportunities to explore various fields of interest during high school through extracurriculars, internships, or summer programs. This can give you a sense of what you enjoy and a direction to start with when you enter college.