The Next Big Admissions Trend and Why It Is a Problem

As high school students begin planning for college and careers, one question continues to lurk in their minds: Which majors should I choose? Looking ahead, there are two fields that stand out as the most popular choices among incoming undergraduate students: Business and Healthcare (pre-med pathways). While each field has its own unique tradeoffs, a common reason why many students are choosing these majors is because of the influence AI has over this crucial decision.

Business
Business has long been one of the most popular college majors for decades, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. Students are attracted to its versatility, easy-to-understand concepts, and range of career options. For example, graduates can pursue careers in marketing, consulting, entrepreneurship, operations, and management, the key areas of all businesses.
AI is transforming the business world rather than replacing it. Companies increasingly need professionals who can use AI to make strategic decisions and manage teams using AI tools. While AI can automate basic tasks such as data analysis, businesses still rely on human creativity, leadership, and relationship-building. As a result, students view business as an easy and reliable major that will remain valuable even as technology evolves.

Healthcare and Pre-Med
Healthcare continues to attract students because of its salary, impact on society, and its essentially AI-proof. Students are branching out and exploring other parts of pre-med beyond just becoming doctors. Students aspire to become physicians, nurse practitioners, researchers, or healthcare administrators. Therefore, the demand for healthcare professionals is expected to remain strong due to aging populations and ongoing medical advancements.
AI is already making healthcare more efficient through diagnostic tools, medical imaging analysis, and patient data management. However, AI cannot replace the human aspects of medicine. Patients still need empathy, communication, ethical decision-making, and personalized care. Rather than reducing opportunities in medicine, AI helps healthcare professionals provide better treatment and make more educated decisions.

The Problem
For much of the early 2020s, Computer Science dominated college admissions. Students saw six-figure salaries, booming tech companies, and stories of successful software engineers. The result was very predictable: everyone wanted to major in Computer Science. Admissions became increasingly competitive, and many applicants discovered that simply checking the "CS" box no longer gave them an advantage because of the sheer volume of applicants.
Now, a similar pattern is emerging with the two fields. Students are increasingly drawn to these majors because they appear to offer the safest path into an uncertain future. Business promises flexibility and leadership opportunities. Healthcare offers stability and strong demand regardless of economic conditions. These are rational choices, but when millions of students make the same rational choice, competition skyrockets, leaving only the best of the best to be able to go to the prestigious T20 schools.
The irony is that many students believe choosing one of these majors will improve their admissions chances. In reality, it is the opposite. Take pre-med majors as an example: strong GPAs, advanced math and science courses, leadership positions, internships at local hospitals, and a “passion for helping others”. This is the typical applicant who goes through the cycle, hoping their dreams of attending Stanford Medical School come true all of a sudden. The truth is, unless you are in the top 97% of all students applying to Stanford, you’re rejected or, at best, waitlisted. As a rising junior in the Bay Area, I see this toxic mindset of getting into the best college taking over students’ lives. 
However, is there a solution? To be honest, I don’t think there is. Besides trying to convince Bay Area students that majoring in the arts isn’t that bad of an idea, going to a prestigious college feels more and more unnecessary the more AI grows. If hundreds of students are dropping out of college to start a business, who is going to look at your resume and say you won’t be successful? No one. The prestige matters less, and what you do with your education matters more.