<p>You can't Really apply TO a major. You can indicate what you are interested in, but then its not Applying to it, cuz it is absolutely non-binding.</p>
<p>So it doesn't make any difference.</p>
<p>It somewhat matters. </p>
<p>I've heard that applying to some of the top schools as an undecided engineering major (as opposed to a definite major in the engineering college) can really hurt you (especially true at Cal.) Also, I've heard of people at my school who have gotten rejected to UArizona because they applied as engineering majors as opposed to liberal arts majors (they had to apply again or do something with the admissions office for them to be accepted as liberal arts majors.) Otherwise, it doesn't really make a difference. Getting into the general college at one school as a chemistry major is just as difficult as getting in as an English major.</p>
<p>But is that the college playing a numbers game, or is that the college picking students they feel are passionate about their concentration?</p>
<p>Engineering programs are different. For one thing, in most schools you apply to a separate college (the School of Engineering rather than the School of Arts & Sciences). For another, most engineering programs require a fairly strict progression of courses, so if you don't start as a freshman you won't graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>Harvard has no engineering school. </p>
<p>And OP, don't fool yourself that applying for neuroscience or neurobiology appears any less "pre-med" than biology or chemistry. Any of the life sciences are considered mainstream pre-med.</p>