Faking Majors?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| Hi, is it a popular trend for students who are planning on doing a STEM major (Engineering/CS etc) to apply with a humanities major like English and History and then pivot once admitted? I heard this is quite popular in the private school kids applying to top colleges. How do they manage to 'hide' the evidence in their resumes? Won't AOs be able to see that they are bluffing? |
Anonymous
|
Colleges often have direct admit to CS, etc. students might get behind if they can’t start taking CS classes first semester. All depends on how the school structures things.
Syracuse has a top ARCH program. You can’t start as an English major and then try to get in very easily. If you were even able to get in, you might have to stay a year longer. Same with their broadcast school, Newhouse. Some colleges inside the universities only have so many spaces. |
Anonymous
| since the beginning of time. this is why "direct admit" was ever conceived. |
Anonymous
| I have no idea how you would do this. If your extracurriculars are high level STEM, STEM and STEM are you just not going to include them? No, you're going to put them in, especially if they're impressive. Yeah, you could exclude them but then you're shooting yourself in the foot. |
Anonymous
Of course admissions will see you're bluffing. If you spent 4 years coding and doing robotics, admissions is not going to believe you're genuine about being an English or elementary education major. I actually don't know anyone who has tried this and my kids go to competitive private high schools. |
Anonymous
| Many places you can't just pivot. |
Anonymous
| My kids are are at a private and they recommend the opposite. Colleges want to see a connection between a kid’s demonstrated interests and proposed major. |
Anonymous
| This is not really an actual thing, OP. |
Anonymous
| No. I don't think it's a popular trend. Some schools will tell you outright that the opportunity to get into a limited-enrollment degree is not going to happen unless you are a direct admit. I'm sure people will try it - but you would need to plan for extra time and money to spend at the school to complete the necessary coursework - if you are even allowed to register for classes as a non-major. |
Anonymous
Jeez, my kids’ school doesn’t have robotics and coding. So screw those kids, huh. They can’t build their resumes! |
Anonymous
Many top universities have direct admit to CS/Engineering/Business majors. So firstly, you would not be able to switch. 2nd, even at a school without direct admit, your EC/Academics need to support your desired major, and being in the robotics club, coding club, and math club and volunteering to teach ES kids to code does not scream you want to be a History or English lit major. So yes, AO can easily see they are bluffing if their resume doesn't support it |
Anonymous
|
It used to happen enough that colleges instituted rules against it. Virginia Tech is the local poster child for this.
Less competitive schools, or even competitive ones which are seeking male English majors or female Math majors are probably still vulnerable to bait and switch, but on the other hand, the bait is not likely to get you much in the way of admission points. |
Anonymous
| My kids all want to go into Engineering - you have to apply directly into the Engineering school - sometimes even into your major. We have also looked at how hard it is to transfer after you get there as it is harder to get into Engineering - it sounds pretty difficult at most of the good schools. I'm sure there are exceptions - but who wants to gamble? |
Anonymous
Lots of online coding classes for kids if they are interested. Robotics might be tougher - but look around - maybe a local University or summer camp. |
Anonymous
Well then your kid should be starting these clubs asap. It's rare that a school doesn't have them already--lucky break for your child! |