<p>I know the question about applying as an obscure major to improve your chances has come up a lot, but this is a little different. </p>
<p>If I am applying as say, an economics major, would I be compared to my accomplishments in math more heavily than would an English major? My lowest SAT section score was a 600 in math, I will only be in Calc AB as a senior, and my math grades have been generally lower than my other grades, yet I am applying as an economics major.</p>
<p>I'm really more interested in theoretical economics as opposed to microeconomic, real life applications, which is why I would be applying as a B of A. </p>
<p>I don't want to become an economist by any means, but I want to have a background in economics before attending law school. </p>
<p>So would my low math scores make me off putting as an economics major, and should I apply as undecided if that is the case?</p>
<p>Speaking on behalf of my HYP alma mater, they consistently say that students’ reported potential majors play no role other than a point of interest. Many many matricualated students enter and choose paths different than when they were applicants. Frankly, it’s one of the benefits – you walk into a buffet and you aren’t stuck with the baked chicken – you can try some shrimp or the roast beef.</p>
<p>The advice admissions officers from my college say: write undecided if that’s what you are. If you have a strong leaning for something, then state that. It’s not a point that can yield you any advantage/disadvantage to them.</p>
<p>(I wrote “Chemistry” despite getting 2 Bs in Honors Chem – didn’t affect me a lick)</p>
<p>I think they do take your intended major into account. And if you’re Asian, I would advise against putting economics as your intended major unless you have substantial experience in business/economics. For some reason a lot of Asians who put they were going to major in economics (despite high test scores and many accomplishments) get rejected from top colleges–this I’ve seen from my own school and CC.</p>
<p>When thinking about what to fill in for your future plans, keep in mind that you need to stand out somehow. Too many kids major in economics. Although I don’t think undecided is a wise choice either; colleges want to see that you have some direction, they want to classify you somehow into the community that you could possibly be a part of. So try to find something that interests you AND will interest colleges.</p>
<p>I believe I know what the reason is. I believe that a lot of Asians who put economics are rejected by highly selective colleges because a lot of people are rejected in general, and the Asian would-be economists are simply a subset of the larger population. </p>
<p>To address the OP’s question, there are some universities at which your choice of a major may matter somewhat. If your prospective major is in a highly competitive division of the university, you may face greater scrutiny. For example, at the University of Maryland, engineering, business and criminology are some of the University’s Limited Enrollment Programs. If you don’t quite measure up for engineering, you might be admitted to the University, but not to the Clark School of Engineering. </p>
<p>In most cases that I am familiar with, however, it doesn’t actually matter whether you put Classics or Biology. Colleges decide based on the description your application gives of you, and the story that you use your application to tell about yourself. The field that you think you’ll major in is often just a tiny, tiny part of that.</p>
<p>Sikorsky addressed Smile99’s point well. The sample you cite is way too small to draw any conclusion. I was an Econ grad from an HYP and Asian. Go figure, right?</p>
<p>I second T26E4’s comments on the insignificance of choosing a major on the application. “Undecided” students I’ve known personally or through years of interviewing have done just as well in the admissions process. This may differ if you are applying to a particular program like Wharton vs. Penn CAS. So few students major in the field that they put on the application anyway so why should it yield an admissions boost? If the school is looking to recruit female engineers and you won a national engineering award that would be a plus. But the more typical strong student with AP everything saying s/he wants to be that same engineer shouldn’t matter since their data says you are more likely to be a pre-med bio major or some other more common major.</p>