I’m talking about Ivies for example right now like Yale and Harvard, the schools that have engineering programs, but have much better programs in different areas. Are girls more likely to get into these schools if they apply for engineering considering they could very easily switch out into non-engineering programs? I’m asking this question as a guy trying to figure out if I’m disadvantaged applying to these schools as an engineer.
Why would you be trying to figure out “if [you’re] disadvantaged”? Of what benefit is that line of reasoning?
One reason might be if I apply to other schools in the next month. Not that the benefit of the reasoning is relevant to the question.
If there is an advantage or disadvantage it is probably insignificant for these highly selective schools. They just admit very low percentages of their applicants across the board.
You should have safety schools besides Harvard and Yale, regardless, so I don’t understand how any answer would determine if you apply to other schools or not.
But really, the answer is probably any advantage would be so small and subjective that it doesn’t matter.
" Are girls more likely to get into these schools if they apply for engineering" Possibly. Top colleges do have an interest in diversity. “considering they could very easily switch out into non-engineering programs?” Are you seriously suggesting that girls are trying to game admissions by lying to their teachers and counselors about their interests and intentions, taking STEM classes and pursuing STEM activities in high school that don’t interest them, applying as engineers, then switching out of STEM once they are admitted? That’s kind of insulting.
I do not see how you could possibly be insulted by the suggestion that someone might try to manipulate an inherently manipulatable system?
This is really an assbackwards question. What advantages any other group may or may not have likely has no bearing on you. What I think you are asking is if you are disadvantaged and I doubt it. At my daughter’s college, Brown, she applied undeclared. The CS department-- where she ended up with no prior intention was virtually all men, I think I saw 4 to 6 women in her graduating class. It led me to believe they try to balance the school, not the departments because it is true that they (and you) don’t really know where you will end up. Sure they want people interested in a variety of things but I tend to think they admit students, not majors.
If you get rejected, blame your own folly. No imaginary disadvantage took your spot.
I think it’s a legitimate question and it probably varies school by school. For instance, a dept head might say to the admissions director – “you know, our last five graduating classes have had under 20% women. It’d strengthen our program if you could identify some likely women engineers.” Then the director may act upon it. At another school, they may not care. But I have no sympathy for your “plight” if I’m honest. The country consistently can not award over 20% of engineering degrees to women. I hope every single engineering school can attract more and more women – including schools like Y and H.
Yes agreed, but does it mean he has a worse chance because they are trying to get some women engineers? Doubtful it affects him very directly. They are still taking in more male engineers compared to other intended that may be more half and half.
Or, maybe he should use the system he perceives and apply to some female dominated field like sociology (I presume.)
Yes, girls are more likely to be accepted because they are female. This is not a statement hidden with malice, nor a statement with an agenda, it is a reasonable observation. There is an over-saturation of males doing STEM, so colleges want diversity.
It can make some difference at Columbia because they have only two separate schools and like to keep them at 50:50 gender ratio. However, those admitted typically make the cut at schools like MIT due to their STEM passions.
I agree that girls have a slight edge in admissions if they look like serious engineering or comp sci students. So do URMs. Engingeering depts (and schools, and workplaces, and governments) want diversity in their ranks because it strengthens them.
Does that impact where you apply? I suppose it means that the acceptance rate is marginally lower so you may want to apply to some slightly safer places but I’m not sure that is really matters statistically. You should have safeties in any case.