<p>how much easier is it to get in as a humanities (political science) major? is it worth the trouble?</p>
<p>When you apply to MIT, you don't apply to a specific school (engineering, science, architecture, Sloan, HASS) or to a specific major. We find that approximately half of our students major in something different than what they write on their applications anyway, so it has no bearing on the decision.</p>
<p>But would it be a better idea to write down a major that is related to my extracurricular activies/interests? eg. management?</p>
<p>Nope, it really won't make a difference. :)</p>
<p>so when mit selects students (assuming that their specific interests and educational pursuits are not a big concern) do they look for kids who are all-around good students? how are these things not considered?</p>
<p>Thanks, Ben. Since you are here, may I ask you another quick question(maybe a little complicated)?</p>
<p>I go to a small prep school in Canada, where no APs are offered. In fact, no clubs were present in the school before tenth grade. We think we made a mistake sending me to this school, but I can't transfer it out of it now because the good school near my school is full. Now my family is not as prosperous at all, and this is probably my parents' biggest expenditure- but they are willing to let me stay at this school if I do well. In the tenth grade I took initiative to start a newspaper, and in junior year I'm starting another club.</p>
<p>Here is the problem. I'm worried that colleges (in particular MIT) will think that I paid to come to this school so I can make my self look good (which is not the case). </p>
<p>My question is: how will adcoms look at this issue? How can I explain it to them?</p>
<p>"I'm worried that colleges (in particular MIT) will think that I paid to come to this school so I can make my self look good (which is not the case)."</p>
<p>Sorry dooit, but I really don't get it. Why would anybody interpret this as you trying to look good? I think you're OK.</p>
<p>Well because it looks like my school reallly offers no opportunities for me, yet I'm paying for it. :/ Ya it's wierd</p>
<p>cleoply, I don't believe Ben was saying that specific interests and educational pursuits are "not a big concern" to the MIT selection committee when it chooses students to admit. They absolutely are! What he said was that it doesn't matter what "major" you write down on the application. They will look at the details of who you are, what you are passionate about, and how you've shown that through your studies, accomplishments, and activities, in the context of your situation, and won't give weight to what you say now, as a high school senior, might be your major. (Since for so many students that changes anyway.)</p>
<p>dooit, if you feel there's something you need to explain to the adcoms about the school you've chosen to attend, you could see how you might fit that into one of the questions on the application. There's a generic "what else do we need to know?" question where you might mention it, if you feel it's important enough to do so.</p>
<p>my concern is that, as most of us know, mit is heavily regarded as a school that accepts very math/science oriented students. if a lot of my achievements or extracurricular activities from high school also focus on political/international involvement, will that be regarded as favorably as math/science-oriented inolvement would be?</p>
<p>You have to somehow prove yourself capable of handling the MIT math/science curriculum, and you should show some interest in science/technology. Beyond that, your passion is your passion.</p>
<p>i do have a passion for science & technology, however that's not the reason i'd like to study there. i would like to study humanities (solely) but i like the atmosphere of mit and what the school offers otherwise.</p>
<p>I think the key point is really that writing down a humanities major isn't going to give you an advantage in admissions, but it's also not going to hurt you.</p>
<p>You're free to write about how excited you are about course 17 in your app, and explain your choice of ECs in that context.</p>
<p>cleoply, as long as you show both your passion for math/science/tech/etc. as well as your passion for polisci/humanities, you'll be absolutely fine.</p>
<p>I'd say greater than half of my ECs and interests expressed in the application had to do with singing, acting, and musical theater. They knew I loved CS/Math too, based on everything else.</p>
<p>Haha, all of my ECs on the application had to do with singing, acting, musical theatre, and band. I'm pretty sure that the only thing on my app that had to do with science were my essays and teacher rec.</p>
<p>what if i don't want my essays to be about science but about my work in the united nations, for example?</p>
<p>That's absolutely fine, as long as the essay means something to you and you're not writing what you THINK they want to hear. That is, the Miss America essay is generally not a good choice. :)</p>
<p>whaaaaat, doesn't <em>everyone</em> want world peace?!</p>
<p>You guys have great advice, I don't even need to show up here anymore. :-)</p>
<p>Cleoply - mootmom said it perfectly:</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't believe Ben was saying that specific interests and educational pursuits are "not a big concern" to the MIT selection committee when it chooses students to admit. They absolutely are! What he said was that it doesn't matter what "major" you write down on the application.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Dooit, I wouldn't worry too much about it. But as mootmom suggests, you may wish to mention it in your app somewhere to provide additional context.</p>
<p>As for this thread in general, River summed it up perfectly:</p>
<p>
[quote]
You have to somehow prove yourself capable of handling the MIT math/science curriculum, and you should show some interest in science/technology. Beyond that, your passion is your passion.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Couldn't have said it better myself!</p>