<p>I want to do either undergrad business or study econ at a school that does not offer an undergrad business program, like Columbia. Unfortunately, at first glance, my math grades are the lowest grades on my transcript, compared to other classes like science, english, history, foreign language, etc. I've always taken the hardest math classes. I don't know how I could have messed this up, but I guess math class has always been the most work and I just didn't try hard enough. But it's too late to change that now. I mean, it's not like I'm hopeless at math. I got an 800 on the Math II Subject Test and on the math section of the SAT. </p>
<p>If I'm applying to a college where a major in econ or applied econ is as close as I can get to "business," since econ is at times math-intensive, would it benefit me to put a more humanities-related major as my intended major? For example, Columbia asks for an essay on your possible future major, so what if I put English, since I've always gotten excellent grades in the subject and can write a good compelling essay on why I want to study English? Would they then focus more on my high grades in the humanities and be slightly more forgiving of math grades? That way, I might be more likely to get into the college itself, and when it comes time to declare a major, I can still get the major I want? Or is there not a big difference? </p>
<p>This is so stressful! I feel like there are all these little things I have to take into consideration. This is in the Columbia forum but it applies to most colleges. Thanks for any input!</p>
<p>I applied and was accepted to Columbia this year. What you “declare” as your major doesn’t matter to them because so many people change within the first two years. I don’t think you even have to officially declare until sophomore year. Adcoms look at scores across the board regardless of major. They wouldn’t grant exceptions to a
“declared” English major just because she was an English major. By next year, she could have become a math major!</p>
<p>I agree with ptontiger. I would recommend putting whatever is actually closest to the things you are interested in studying, which will be fleshed out in the writing portion of the supplement. I don’t think there is anything to gain or lose from putting down one major over another (unless it is in direct contradiction with something else you write!)</p>
<p>Will it really help to put down English? Probably not. But, chances are, you’ll change your major when you get to college anyway. No harm in putting down the major that makes the most sense for your strengths on paper.</p>
<p>I agree with the above statement, but want to add that you need to be able to write a short ~200 word essay conveying what interests you about the subject and why you would want to study it. Thus, it’s much harder (but not impossible) to show your passion and give reasons or write a compelling narrative if you aren’t that interested in English.</p>
<p><em>In my opinion</em>, putting English over econ won’t give you a considerable advantage. If you don’t have any sort of extracurriculars or other out of school experiences related to it, it would add very little to your application. Another reason people apply to majors they don’t intend to study is the theory that some colleges seek to raise enrollment in unpopular majors by accepting more of those interested. If Columbia does consider intended major in this way (which I doubt, with it being so easy to change majors), then according to this: <a href=“Columbia OPIR”>Columbia OPIR;
econ and its associated majors are the most popular in the college, with English not far behind. Either way, it wouldn’t affect you. Your math sat score shows aptitude, so I wouldn’t worry about it, and suggest applying to econ and focusing on your essay to show your interest in it.</p>