<p>So, what are my chances of getting accepted into harvard with a very weird major such as basket weaving? Um the reason I am doing this is because my GPA is pretty low, 3.3/4.5, decent SATs 1500. Ton of ECs, and a killer essay!</p>
<p>At first I had a much better impression of this thread than I did. Yes, it's true a weird major can help you get in, if the department is undersubscribed and especially if they express a need for more undergrads (and ESPECIALLY if they express a desire to have you in particular!). But you must have a passion for that major and if you don't, Harvard will see right through it. You don't even have a real major in mind. It seems to me like you're just trying to increase your chances however you can, and that won't help you at all in the admissions process.</p>
<p>Go with what you like, and even if that means you're the 10,000th prospective pre-med they get, it's better than feigning interest in an undersubscribed major.</p>
<p>i think they know some people pick bogus majors just to get in more easily.</p>
<p>pick what you really want to major in. the classes you've take, your ec's , and awards should reflect your interest.</p>
<p>Well, they know that a large majority of people change their minds anyway, so I'm not sure exactly how much it will help to put a rare concentration.</p>
<p>That said, I put my prospective concentration as Hispanic Literature (certainly not the most popular concentration at H), but I feel like I showed sufficient passion for that, and was accepted. However, if I had showed the same passion for Econ or Government, I am confident I still would have been accepted.</p>
<p>So basically, just put what you're truly interested in and don't try to "cheat the system," because they'll probably be able to tell.</p>
<p>A ton of ECs won't get you in nor will having an obscure major that you appeared to pull out of a hat. Having a demonstrated passion -- including Ecs, academics related to it -- for something connected with a rare major could be a tip factor for an otherwise very qualified applicant.</p>
<p>"That said, I put my prospective concentration as Hispanic Literature (certainly not the most popular concentration at H)"</p>
<p>By Hispanic Literature, do you mean a Literature concentration with Spanish as your language? (Lit. concentrators are required to take 4 semesters of the literature of another language). </p>
<p>Or, do you mean a special concentration, where you essentially design your own major?</p>
<p>Personally, I'm a huge fan of the Lit. department here. It isn't for everyone--it involves a lot of Literary Theory--and you have to apply to the major, but I think it's worth it if you're someone who is interested in combining theory, the literature of another language, and possibly some other field--gender studies, psych, film, etc--into one comprehensive major.</p>
<p>And what some people are saying is right, "weird" concentration might not even help you much no matter how dedicated you really are to it. I know 100% I want to be an astronomy concentrator (which only graduates what, like, 5 kids a year?) and go on to get my Ph.D. and do research, and I've already done some major research and won big, national awards with that and all throughout myself demonstrated a huge passion for astronomy but I was still deferred. Long story short, if you don't have the right stuff (and you don't seem confident that you do) then a weird major won't do it for you. That being said, you're probably "in the range" and your chances are only 0 if you don't apply, so give it a shot! ;)</p>
<p>"By Hispanic Literature, do you mean a Literature concentration with Spanish as your language?"</p>
<p>No, it's a concentration within the Romance Languages & Literatures department.
But that's cool about the Lit department. I was unaware of that requirement.</p>