Has anyone tried the 'what should I major in' quiz for Harvard?
I stumbled onto a 'what should I major in' quiz that’s supposed to be specific to Harvard, and I’m curious if anyone here has taken it and found it actually helpful? Right now, I have a bunch of different interests—like biology, economics, and even a little bit of history—but I really can't decide or narrow things down.
I’m hoping to apply to Harvard early action but I feel like I need to at least have an idea of what I want to study. I’ve done other online quizzes before, but they just gave me super broad results that didn’t really point me in a clear direction. If anyone took the Harvard-specific quiz, did it match you to something you ended up enjoying? Or did it just add to the confusion? Would love to hear how it worked for you or if I should just skip it and trust my gut instead.
I’m hoping to apply to Harvard early action but I feel like I need to at least have an idea of what I want to study. I’ve done other online quizzes before, but they just gave me super broad results that didn’t really point me in a clear direction. If anyone took the Harvard-specific quiz, did it match you to something you ended up enjoying? Or did it just add to the confusion? Would love to hear how it worked for you or if I should just skip it and trust my gut instead.
6 months ago
•
11 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 6 months ago
Advisor
A lot of students experiment with quizzes like the Harvard 'what should I major in' one, especially when they're juggling interests across multiple fields. These quizzes can be a fun starting point, but their results usually aren’t highly personalized or predictive—most rely on a set of general questions and match you to broader areas based on your answers. For instance, you might say you enjoy solving puzzles and get 'Mathematics' or 'Economics' as suggestions, which doesn’t exactly narrow things down if you’re already thinking in those directions.
Some students who've taken the Harvard-specific quiz say they liked reading about different concentrations and seeing possible career paths listed. Occasionally, it points out a major you hadn’t thought about (like Social Studies or Human Evolutionary Biology), so you might discover something new. But most people find that the results echo what they already suspected, or are so broad (e.g., 'Sciences' or 'Social Sciences') they don’t offer much clarity.
If you’re hoping to use the quiz for your Harvard application, it’s worth remembering that Harvard doesn’t require you to declare your concentration until the end of sophomore year. When you apply, you can indicate a potential field, but it’s completely fine to call yourself “undecided.” Many successful applicants mention multiple academic interests or even describe how they hope to explore several during their time at Harvard.
A more useful approach might be to look directly at the Harvard concentrations page. Read through course descriptions, faculty bios, and sample pathways in the fields you’re considering. If you’re torn between biology, economics, and history, look for classes that blend them—Harvard has joint concentrations and secondary fields that might speak to your mix of interests. For example, a student interested in both economics and biology might look at the “Economics of Health” courses or consider Social Studies, where you can create an interdisciplinary focus.
If the quiz sounds fun, no harm in taking it as a conversation starter, but don’t feel obligated to follow its advice. Your own curiosity and gut instinct are just as valuable—if not more—when considering what you'd enjoy studying.
Some students who've taken the Harvard-specific quiz say they liked reading about different concentrations and seeing possible career paths listed. Occasionally, it points out a major you hadn’t thought about (like Social Studies or Human Evolutionary Biology), so you might discover something new. But most people find that the results echo what they already suspected, or are so broad (e.g., 'Sciences' or 'Social Sciences') they don’t offer much clarity.
If you’re hoping to use the quiz for your Harvard application, it’s worth remembering that Harvard doesn’t require you to declare your concentration until the end of sophomore year. When you apply, you can indicate a potential field, but it’s completely fine to call yourself “undecided.” Many successful applicants mention multiple academic interests or even describe how they hope to explore several during their time at Harvard.
A more useful approach might be to look directly at the Harvard concentrations page. Read through course descriptions, faculty bios, and sample pathways in the fields you’re considering. If you’re torn between biology, economics, and history, look for classes that blend them—Harvard has joint concentrations and secondary fields that might speak to your mix of interests. For example, a student interested in both economics and biology might look at the “Economics of Health” courses or consider Social Studies, where you can create an interdisciplinary focus.
If the quiz sounds fun, no harm in taking it as a conversation starter, but don’t feel obligated to follow its advice. Your own curiosity and gut instinct are just as valuable—if not more—when considering what you'd enjoy studying.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years