It’s important to add that for some colleges ‘fit to major’ is critical….I get the sense that’s maybe what you were also asking about.
I’m talking about the schools that require applying to a major and/or have a supplemental essay requiring the student write about why they want that major (and having experiences that track with that major is a must). Some schools like this are UIUC, UT Austin, some schools at Cornell, U Washington, and more.
I think you are smart to be thinking about this now. Of course a student can apply undecided/undeclared at these schools and/or avoid schools like this, but the idea is to keep as many doors open as long as possible.