<p>However, when applying to <i>some </i>colleges and <i>many </i>universities, you must indicate what "school" (or sometimes what specific major) you want, and your decision may be important and hard to wiggle out of. Most universities have a "School of Arts and Sciences," as you've mentioned, which is basically like a liberal arts college within the larger university, and it's often the choice of uncommitted candidates like yourself. </p><p>If, however, another school ("Allied Health Science," "Architecture and Planning," etc.) intrigues you, then you need to ask admission officials how easy it is to make a switch, if you get there and realize you haven't made the right pick. At some places, it's not a big deal, while at others there may be no room for you left in the department you decide on or in many of the classes you need. You may end up having to either opt for a second or third choice of major, taking extra semesters (or years) before you graduate, or transferring to another institution altogether. </p><p>That's why liberal arts colleges are good bets for students with little clue about academic goals. They offer you a chance to experiment with a range of subjects, and you're likely to find something you like that perhaps you've never previously encountered. Once you get to college, you will probably have a "core curriculum" or "distribution requirements" to fulfill, and these will give you some direction. You will also work with a faculty adviser who can give you suggestions, too. Some colleges offer a mix of liberal arts and pre-professional programs, but you don't have to commit to an area of concentration until the end of your sophomore year. These can be a good bet for undecided high school students.</p><p>Here's an exercise that may be worth trying: get your hands on one of the huge college megatomes such as Barron's <i>Profiles of American Colleges</i>. In one of the appendices, you'll find a list of a gazillion different majors--from predictable ones like history and political science to less familiar fare such as "Labor Studies," "Toy Design," and "Air Traffic Control." Although reading through this list may not tell you exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life, it could open your eyes to options that you didn't even know were out there, and you might decide to direct your college search towards institutions that offer some of the fields that most intrigue you.</p>
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