How important is indicated major to admissions chances?

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering because my daughter is a junior and just starting to look at schools. She is likely to choose a "less popular" major like Classics because she's a very strong Latin student and really enjoys the subject. Does telling colleges this improve her chances of being admitted? I know that many of her friends are looking at STEM majors but she just doesn't fit that bill and she could do a lot with a classics major from a good school, including going to law or business school afterwards.

I know schools look to have a balanced incoming class and not have 50% of their incoming class majoring in Chemistry or English, for example, so I would guess they take intended major into consideration. Any idea?

[Anonymous]

Depends on the school, but generally "yes", especially something unique like Latin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the school, but generally "yes", especially something unique like Latin.

Assuming this is true, should she reach out to professors and attend their classes when visiting? I am not sure if they advocate for students who want to study unique majors to ensure they have an incoming class of freshman studying things like Latin, but I would imagine they have a vested interest in supporting diversity like this (and keeping themselves in a job).

This, of course, assumes that she is otherwise qualified to attend a particular school.

[Anonymous]

No, at the top schools.

[Anonymous]

For competitive schools it's not likely to make a difference. The positive is that in the essay about "why school X" she can write about her passion for classics and why the department at school X appeals to her.

[Anonymous]

This article seems to indicate it might:

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/000116/

[Anonymous]

Admit rates are incredibly low for everyone. But, it's easy for schools to tell whether an applicant is a STEM oriented student and will compare them to other STEM students. Similarly, strong interest in the humanities and social sciences are clear too. A humanities major with a couple published pieces in popular magazines just doesn't need to have an 800 math SAT and every AP science and calculus on his transcript to be a slam dunk admit. At the same time, it means that their college essay is held to a much higher standard than a future engineer's.

[Anonymous]

Say an applicant indicates that want to major in something like art, at school like John Hopkins, that isn't known for it, will they think it's odd?

[Anonymous]

Say an applicant indicates that want to major in something like art, at school like John Hopkins, that isn't known for it, will they think it's odd?

Why would they think it's odd? If they offer the major and pay professors to teach classes in that major, surely they expect someone to choose it as their major. It might be odd if your kid took all the AP math and science classes and can't draw a stick figure.

[Anonymous]

I think it matters for some scholarship stuff. I went in declaring a specific stem major and got a scholarship from the dept of engineering for my junior and senior year if I was still in that major. The undergrad school itself matched that specific scholarship from the engineering dept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Say an applicant indicates that want to major in something like art, at school like John Hopkins, that isn't known for it, will they think it's odd?

Hopkins has a cross-registration agreement with MICA (I think Brown and RISD have a similar deal). I think they understand that people can be serious about art but still want a liberal arts college education rather than an art school degree. JHU also took over the Peabody Institute (a music conservatory) -- admissions are separate but the degree comes from Hopkins. There's a relatively new film and media studies program as well. Long story short, Hopkins is a university that sees the arts, including performing arts, as part of its mission. That said, it makes sense for interested applicants to look at course offerings, majors, and programs so that they know how to frame their application so that it's clear that they understand the resources the school has to offer them.

While JHU is famous for science, it has very strong humanities programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Admit rates are incredibly low for everyone. But, it's easy for schools to tell whether an applicant is a STEM oriented student and will compare them to other STEM students. Similarly, strong interest in the humanities and social sciences are clear too. A humanities major with a couple published pieces in popular magazines just doesn't need to have an 800 math SAT and every AP science and calculus on his transcript to be a slam dunk admit. At the same time, it means that their college essay is held to a much higher standard than a future engineer's.

This makes sense. My DD is a writer and has had a few things published already but she is definitely not a STEM oriented student. Her reading and English on the ACT are a lot higher than her math/science. I think it's fair to hold her essay to a higher standard but maybe not come down on her for skipping the AP Physics in favor of AP Latin, for example.

[Anonymous]

It matters a lot, especially if your demographic is not common in that field of study - I am good friends with an adcom at Penn and she said especially if you are Asian for example but show a real interest and passion for History or Classics, it separates you big time from the other million asians that indicate Wharton or Stem as their interests.

[Anonymous]

MIT's humanities department is excellent and most applicants are applying for the sciences but humanity seats still need to be filled. Biggest drawback is the heavy common core in science.

My DC will apply for their foreign language program in the fall. DC also likes math and science (AP sciences but regular math) so it won't be too painful if admitted. The common core math/science courses are for everyone regardless of your major so if a humanties kid decides to take the MCAT, they meet the requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It matters a lot, especially if your demographic is not common in that field of study - I am good friends with an adcom at Penn and she said especially if you are Asian for example but show a real interest and passion for History or Classics, it separates you big time from the other million asians that indicate Wharton or Stem as their interests.

Very true. Adcom from Franklin & Marshall spoke at our school and said the very same thing. He called it a hook because the classic seats need to be filled.