Applied RD to Linguistics - does this make a difference?

Applying to College
1

I applied RD to Harvard under intended linguistics major. My interests/ECs/classes align with this choice of major, and I genuinely intend to study linguistics in college. But I’ve heard recently that applying to less popular majors (one such example being linguistics) can actually help your chances at some schools. Does this apply to Harvard? Do I have a slightly greater chance of getting in because of my choice in major?

(For reference: did not submit SAT, GPA of 4.28.)

Also – I posted this same post beneath the Stanford thread bc the question applies there too. So if you have any insight for either of these universities, that would be spectacular. Thanks!

2

No. Harvard does not admit by major. Maybe you have a 5% chance vs the 4.9% ovetall, but the difference is meaningless. Half of Harvard students end up with a different concentration than originally planned.

I deleted that post as duplicative, but the answer is the same

3

agree entirely with @skieurope

Would just add that it is a plus when interests/ecs/classes align with intended major/concentration.

4

Understood, thank you both very much.

Do you happen to know if this would have an impact at a public university (like UCLA)?

5

@Gumbymom can you answer for UCs?

6

For UCLA specifically, Linguistics is in the College of Letters and Sciences which does not admit by major.

Each UC campus will admit Freshman differently so did you apply to any other UC’s besides UCLA?

7

I also applied to UCSB, is it different there?

8

No, UCSB also does not admit by major in the College of Letters and Sciences.

9

Got it. Thanks for explaining!

10

Even if a college uses stated major in the decision, the thing I have never seen is how many apply with each major. For example, if a college is looking for 10 major X and 100 major Y students, but get 125 highly qualified applications for X and 1,000 for Y, what is more difficult?

11

UC is actually more transparent with transfer applications, admissions, and enrolls by major than for frosh in this respect: