Choosing a Major Based on Graduate/Professional School

Students frequently enter college with plans beyond their undergraduate degree. Examples could include medical school, veterinary, law school, or other options.

Undergraduate degrees towards graduate school may or may not matter. Dependent on the graduate school plans, students might be able to choose literally any major at Virginia Tech. However, students can narrow their decision for their undergraduate degree using these steps.

Priority steps to choose a major based on graduate school plans:

• Google your potential graduate school plans in the states in which you want to attend.
• Answer the following questions:
  • Look for the type of degree, prerequisite courses, skills, certifications and/or standardized test scores needed for admission.
• Need help finding a graduate school? 
• Find graduate/professional school resources & test prep information on the Career & Professional Development site. 
• Pre-Health Graduate Schools in Virginia are available here as well as every course needed for admission at Virginia Tech

Optional steps to choose a major based on graduate school plans:

• What Can I Do With a Major

  • This website does not include all majors at Tech, but does include similar subjects and a list of career resources to help you research career fields
• Meet with Offices/Resources to align careers and majors
• Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor
• Need to change your major? Meet with Transitional Advising
  
• Schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor
• Schedule an appointment with a Health Professions Advisor 
• Meet with faculty in the discipline or someone in the field
  • This might require emailing or meeting with current faculty or emailing someone for the first time
• Consider contacting Admissions at the graduate school or professional school of your choice.