Major choice and strategic positioning

[Anonymous]

From another post, how many senior parents (or their paid college counselors) evaluated the benefits of applying to different majors strategically for T25 selective schools? Or other junior parents: how are you thinking about the below?

For example, your kid was interested in a major in arts & sciences like psychology or maybe biology. But because bio is oversubscribed and psychology is a more common (soon to be oversubscribed) major, and the kid also showed a real academic, personal, and EC interest in Asian American history (LOR from history teacher, school's history club, special project or paper, national history day stuff, personal family tie, etc.), then did you have your kid apply for what would have originally been a 2nd or 3rd choice (Asian American Studies) as the first choice/stated major (knowing that in arts & sciences, you are generally free to move around)?

I understand you can't "fake" this. But I'm talking about a non-STEM kid interested in 2 or 3 majors in arts & sciences. If your kid considered this, did you research how many majors graduate each year from these majors for each of your reach schools? Assuming competitive stats and rigor obviously which is always the first bar.
1. And what was the outcome in REA/ED and RD?
2. What worked and didn't work for your kid?
3. Did you look at all of the Tableau or college raptor data for each college's graduating majors to figure out which majors are "undersubscribed"?
4. Any resources you might suggest?

https://www.berkeley2academy.com/single-post/major-selection-is-a-major-deal-how-to-strategize-for-college-applications

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From another post, how many senior parents (or their paid college counselors) evaluated the benefits of applying to different majors strategically for T25 selective schools? Or other junior parents: how are you thinking about the below?

For example, your kid was interested in a major in arts & sciences like psychology or maybe biology. But because bio is oversubscribed and psychology is a more common (soon to be oversubscribed) major, and the kid also showed a real academic, personal, and EC interest in Asian American history (LOR from history teacher, school's history club, special project or paper, national history day stuff, personal family tie, etc.), then did you have your kid apply for what would have originally been a 2nd or 3rd choice (Asian American Studies) as the first choice/stated major (knowing that in arts & sciences, you are generally free to move around)?

I understand you can't "fake" this. But I'm talking about a non-STEM kid interested in 2 or 3 majors in arts & sciences. If your kid considered this, did you research how many majors graduate each year from these majors for each of your reach schools? Assuming competitive stats and rigor obviously which is always the first bar.
1. And what was the outcome in REA/ED and RD?
2. What worked and didn't work for your kid?
3. Did you look at all of the Tableau or college raptor data for each college's graduating majors to figure out which majors are "undersubscribed"?
4. Any resources you might suggest?

https://www.berkeley2academy.com/single-post/major-selection-is-a-major-deal-how-to-strategize-for-college-applications

Our students chose their own major and didn't attempt to game the admissions process by choosing an alternative.

[Anonymous]

Everyone at our private does this. CCO advises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From another post, how many senior parents (or their paid college counselors) evaluated the benefits of applying to different majors strategically for T25 selective schools? Or other junior parents: how are you thinking about the below?

For example, your kid was interested in a major in arts & sciences like psychology or maybe biology. But because bio is oversubscribed and psychology is a more common (soon to be oversubscribed) major, and the kid also showed a real academic, personal, and EC interest in Asian American history (LOR from history teacher, school's history club, special project or paper, national history day stuff, personal family tie, etc.), then did you have your kid apply for what would have originally been a 2nd or 3rd choice (Asian American Studies) as the first choice/stated major (knowing that in arts & sciences, you are generally free to move around)?

I understand you can't "fake" this. But I'm talking about a non-STEM kid interested in 2 or 3 majors in arts & sciences. If your kid considered this, did you research how many majors graduate each year from these majors for each of your reach schools? Assuming competitive stats and rigor obviously which is always the first bar.
1. And what was the outcome in REA/ED and RD?
2. What worked and didn't work for your kid?
3. Did you look at all of the Tableau or college raptor data for each college's graduating majors to figure out which majors are "undersubscribed"?
4. Any resources you might suggest?

https://www.berkeley2academy.com/single-post/major-selection-is-a-major-deal-how-to-strategize-for-college-applications

Our students chose their own major and didn't attempt to game the admissions process by choosing an alternative.

+1. Got into first choice HYPSM so worked out just fine.

[Anonymous]

In gaming, you don’t always win. Sometimes, you lose.

Is it really worth it? There are so many colleges out there. There are soooo many that do not go to a T25 school and are very successful.

Find a school that fits without gaming. Is this your idea to game or your kid’s idea?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In gaming, you don’t always win. Sometimes, you lose.

Is it really worth it? There are so many colleges out there. There are soooo many that do not go to a T25 school and are very successful.

Find a school that fits without gaming. Is this your idea to game or your kid’s idea?

I'm the OP.

Is it gaming if it was going to be a double major or minor anyway? There's real interest there. It's just there are also interests elsewhere too. So really just flip-flopping primary and secondary majors. I don't see how it's gaming; it's just focusing on a different part of DC's story. DC is very academically ambitious so was the one to raise this watching the current senior class and knowing a few friends who've done similar.

I attended a webinar with a national college counseling firm last month and didn't fully appreciate that this was the entire jist of their advice after they asked you to write down (1) all your kids ECs; (2) academic interests and (3) look at the transcript choices.

[Anonymous]

Sara H and App Nation help you do this if you buy the add-ons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In gaming, you don’t always win. Sometimes, you lose.

Is it really worth it? There are so many colleges out there. There are soooo many that do not go to a T25 school and are very successful.

Find a school that fits without gaming. Is this your idea to game or your kid’s idea?

This was our attitude — that in gaming our kid would lose more than they gained. In the end, I guess everyone follows their own North Star.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In gaming, you don’t always win. Sometimes, you lose.

Is it really worth it? There are so many colleges out there. There are soooo many that do not go to a T25 school and are very successful.

Find a school that fits without gaming. Is this your idea to game or your kid’s idea?

I'm the OP.

Is it gaming if it was going to be a double major or minor anyway? There's real interest there. It's just there are also interests elsewhere too. So really just flip-flopping primary and secondary majors. I don't see how it's gaming; it's just focusing on a different part of DC's story. DC is very academically ambitious so was the one to raise this watching the current senior class and knowing a few friends who've done similar.

I attended a webinar with a national college counseling firm last month and didn't fully appreciate that this was the entire jist of their advice after they asked you to write down (1) all your kids ECs; (2) academic interests and (3) look at the transcript choices.

NP here, yes you need to be strategic but I would say it’s the same as looking at applying ED. You have to know the school, know your student and how competitive they are without it and how much a boost with it, and believe any downsides would be worth it.

I would also say if they are interested in both or not sure, they should look into LACs as well My kid was between STEM and non-STEM but didn’t have enough background with activities and classes to really make a strong narrative for STEM, especially when you see the background of the kids that were all in from 9th grade. Their private college counselor had them apply undecided or as the non-STEM for the schools where applying with the STEM field would hurt their chances. But that also meant, had they gotten in and chosen that school at best they may have been able to minor in the STEM field because it was limited enrollment and they didn’t come in with that major. Attending a LAC afforded the opportunity to more easily change to the STEM field or double major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In gaming, you don’t always win. Sometimes, you lose.

Is it really worth it? There are so many colleges out there. There are soooo many that do not go to a T25 school and are very successful.

Find a school that fits without gaming. Is this your idea to game or your kid’s idea?

I'm the OP.

Is it gaming if it was going to be a double major or minor anyway? There's real interest there. It's just there are also interests elsewhere too. So really just flip-flopping primary and secondary majors. I don't see how it's gaming; it's just focusing on a different part of DC's story. DC is very academically ambitious so was the one to raise this watching the current senior class and knowing a few friends who've done similar.

I attended a webinar with a national college counseling firm last month and didn't fully appreciate that this was the entire jist of their advice after they asked you to write down (1) all your kids ECs; (2) academic interests and (3) look at the transcript choices.

NP here, yes you need to be strategic but I would say it’s the same as looking at applying ED. You have to know the school, know your student and how competitive they are without it and how much a boost with it, and believe any downsides would be worth it.

I would also say if they are interested in both or not sure, they should look into LACs as well My kid was between STEM and non-STEM but didn’t have enough background with activities and classes to really make a strong narrative for STEM, especially when you see the background of the kids that were all in from 9th grade. Their private college counselor had them apply undecided or as the non-STEM for the schools where applying with the STEM field would hurt their chances. But that also meant, had they gotten in and chosen that school at best they may have been able to minor in the STEM field because it was limited enrollment and they didn’t come in with that major. Attending a LAC afforded the opportunity to more easily change to the STEM field or double major.

This is a great point. Often overlooked about the major benefits of SLACs.
And also, the undecided major can be helpful in certain cases.
Get professional private counseling advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In gaming, you don’t always win. Sometimes, you lose.

Is it really worth it? There are so many colleges out there. There are soooo many that do not go to a T25 school and are very successful.

Find a school that fits without gaming. Is this your idea to game or your kid’s idea?

I'm the OP.

Is it gaming if it was going to be a double major or minor anyway? There's real interest there. It's just there are also interests elsewhere too. So really just flip-flopping primary and secondary majors. I don't see how it's gaming; it's just focusing on a different part of DC's story. DC is very academically ambitious so was the one to raise this watching the current senior class and knowing a few friends who've done similar.

I attended a webinar with a national college counseling firm last month and didn't fully appreciate that this was the entire jist of their advice after they asked you to write down (1) all your kids ECs; (2) academic interests and (3) look at the transcript choices.

NP here, yes you need to be strategic but I would say it’s the same as looking at applying ED. You have to know the school, know your student and how competitive they are without it and how much a boost with it, and believe any downsides would be worth it.

I would also say if they are interested in both or not sure, they should look into LACs as well My kid was between STEM and non-STEM but didn’t have enough background with activities and classes to really make a strong narrative for STEM, especially when you see the background of the kids that were all in from 9th grade. Their private college counselor had them apply undecided or as the non-STEM for the schools where applying with the STEM field would hurt their chances. But that also meant, had they gotten in and chosen that school at best they may have been able to minor in the STEM field because it was limited enrollment and they didn’t come in with that major. Attending a LAC afforded the opportunity to more easily change to the STEM field or double major.

This is a great point. Often overlooked about the major benefits of SLACs.
And also, the undecided major can be helpful in certain cases.
Get professional private counseling advice.

+1 this is what my kid did -- undecided at a LAC, listed his more mainstream interest and his less subscribed major as possibilities.

[Anonymous]

My child has a genuine interest in a “lesser” major with the activities and experiences to prove it.
No gaming other than knowing which schools are nationally ranked for the major.
Sometimes the “name” schools don’t do certain majors better than “lesser” schools.

[Anonymous]

This woman talked about exactly this on an IG reel today:
https://www.alexiscollegexpert.com/home

This is definitely not a secret.
lol

[Anonymous]

Many highly-selective private universities do not admit by major within the Arts & Sciences school. The choice is the school, such as A&S, engineering, business, nursing, and sometimes other random schools like education or communications/journalism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many highly-selective private universities do not admit by major within the Arts & Sciences school. The choice is the school, such as A&S, engineering, business, nursing, and sometimes other random schools like education or communications/journalism.

But don’t they consider it? They can’t have a whole class of Bio or Econ majors?

At least that’s how it was explained to us by a private college counseling firm as it relates to private T25.

Sure you’re not admitted to a major and nobody will hold you to it. But they are looking for evidence of whatever you list. And you’re typically compared to others who also list that same major. So you better have all the “stuff” - awards, ECs, classes and more showing evidence for major.