Thank you. Yes, he is applying to at least one university that admits to a specific school, and then for others, they are asking what he plans to study. I understand it is not a good idea to say “undecided” so we won’t do that. I guess I am asking if there is any evidence that what you put for your major impacts admissions in any way at the places where you don’t apply to a certain school. Or, if it is just more about getting to know the applicant, since many undergrads change their minds. I do get what you are saying about not missing out on engineering or CS if that is what he wants.
His list has several safeties/matches and now the work is going into trying to have one reach option if possible.