This growing trend—often called “fit to major”—asks students to go deeper. Admissions officers aren’t just reviewing academics; they’re looking for clues of genuine interest, preparation, and potential in the major a student selects.

For families, that can sound like yet another hoop to jump through. But it’s also an opportunity. When students connect their natural strengths and emerging interests to a major that makes sense for them, they gain more than a competitive edge. They gain direction.

Here’s how you can help your teen explore what they’re good at, connect it to what they care about, and bring that alignment to life in their college applications.

Why Fit to Major Matters Now More Than Ever

At many top public universities, students apply directly into a major—and that major matters.

At UT Austin, for example, two students with the same GPA can get very different decisions depending on how clearly they’ve demonstrated readiness for their first-choice major. Similar major-based reviews are used at places like the University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UNC Chapel Hill, and University of Washington.

Why are colleges prioritizing this?

• It helps them predict success. They want students to persist and graduate in their chosen field.
• It helps students stand out. When thousands of applicants have strong academics, clear alignment tells a more complete story.
• It reflects real-world readiness. Students who explore, reflect, and engage early tend to thrive once they’re on campus.

Step 1: Help Your Teen Discover What They're Good At

This doesn’t have to start with a major—it starts with a mirror.

• What comes naturally?
• What subjects spark curiosity?
• What types of work feel energizing, not exhausting?

Encourage your teen to take classes that stretch them—business, psychology, engineering design, journalism—and to join clubs or activities that offer hands-on experience. These early steps are less about locking in a path and more about learning what fits.

Let them experiment:

• Try a coding camp or build something from scratch (Computer Science, Engineering)
• Volunteer at a clinic or shadow a nurse (Health, Nursing)
• Intern with a local business or lead a DECA project (Business, Marketing)
• Write for the school paper or perform in theater (Communications, Arts)

The goal isn’t to settle on a future career—it’s to pay attention to the sparks.

Step 2: Go Deeper Than Just Exploring

Once your teen finds something that feels like a fit, help them go beyond surface-level involvement.

• Take on leadership roles in relevant clubs
• Launch a passion project, blog, or initiative
• Seek mentorship, volunteer experiences, or internships
• Propose an independent study or research project

Depth—and consistency—are powerful signals to admissions officers. They show that this isn’t a passing interest; it’s a direction worth investing in.

Step 3: Let Their Transcript Tell a Story

Colleges want to see that a student’s academic choices support their intended major:

• Business/Economics: AP Econ, Statistics, DECA
• Engineering: Advanced Math, Physics, Computer Science
• Nursing/Health Sciences: Biology, Anatomy, Health electives
• Communications: Journalism, Speech, AP Lang

Encourage your teen to challenge themselves in the subjects most relevant to their future goals. Rigor in those areas can carry weight—especially in competitive programs.

Step 4: Showcase Their Journey in the Application

Expanded Résumé (Especially for UT Austin):
Start early and keep it updated. Organize their experiences in a way that clearly supports their major. For each entry:

• Include role, organization, dates, and hours
• Add one bullet on what they did
• Add one bullet on the impact they had

Essays:
Use the major-specific short answer (like the one UT requires) to tell a focused story:

• Why this field?
• What experiences shaped that interest?
• Why this college’s program?

Even the main personal statement can highlight transferable strengths—curiosity, resilience, collaboration—that support the major narrative.

Recommendations:
Help your teen choose teachers who can speak to major-relevant skills. A science teacher who saw their spark in lab or a business teacher who noticed their leadership can add valuable insight.

Step 5: Support Their Growth—Not Just Their Plan

This part matters most.

• Be the steady guide. Help them set deadlines, stay organized, and reflect.
• Celebrate their growth. Acknowledge effort over outcome.
• Normalize uncertainty. Let them know it’s okay to pivot.
• Model calm. Your reassurance builds their resilience.

College isn’t about picking one right path—it’s about learning how to explore with purpose.

Strengths First, Major Second

When your teen leads with what they’re good at—and connects those strengths to a major that matters—they’re not just writing a stronger college application. They’re building a foundation for the future.

The new admissions advantage isn’t about knowing all the answers. It’s about asking better questions, exploring intentionally, and helping your teen tell a story only they can tell.

That’s how they’ll stand out—and that’s how they’ll find their place.