<p>not much difference</p>
<p>That the dept pushes for an applicant is of some benefit. Likewise, an applicant's expression coupled with the academic background to take courses (beyond intro level) in an under-enrolled dept is of some benefit - - those physicis profs have to do something. And some LACs even purchase the names of students who scored 4/5 on math and sci AP exams.</p>
<p>Also, while URMs are underrepresented in almost every area, there are certainly disciplines where a qualified URM candidate will get a real boost. D, for example, who took AP math, had very strong math SAT, NMS commendation and expressed interest in arch/engineering was heavily courted by Harvey Mudd (virtually no girls or black students) and MIT.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm assuming Humanities or History (lol, especially Political Science or International Politics) at Yale isn't that unpopular then, so there wouldn't be much "advantage" in putting that.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>But not a disadvantage either. D applied as an English major and changed majors in soph year to one of their smaller departments. I think schools like Yale ask this question because it helps them know the applicant better, too, not just to fill their seats in the less popular majors. I'd say if you really have an interest in classics or geology, or are a female engineer-to-be, it might help, but humanities, English and history are large departments at Yale with many faculty, which can support a lot of students.</p>
<p>NYC,</p>
<p>your post is certainly popular wisdom. Can you back your assertions up, though, with any hard evidence outside URM or gender specific recruiting? </p>
<p>I agree that girls interested in math/engineering will be heavily courted by the CMU, MIT and Caltechs of the world, and that URMs that can do the work will be recruited by virtually any college where their interests fit. Unfortunately, that leaves most of the population (i.e. white males, non-geek girls) without an option.</p>
<p>newmass -</p>
<p>You may be correct. D2 attended a girls' school; thus, the White students who were recruited for physics and math were all female. </p>
<p>But girls are applying to college in greater numbers than boys and, as a result are disadvantaged in the admissions process as colleges attempt to obtrain/retain gender parity. With boys getting a tip (and a really big tip at shcs w/ lopsided male:female ratios) just for being boys, the math/sci tip shouldn't be discounted just b/c it's avail to girls only (or, to adopt your language - - available to geek girls but not geek boys).</p>
<p>nyc,</p>
<p>again, let's distinguish between tips based on gender and tips based on major.<br>
Except for a few schools that have lopsided gender ratios, schools like Caltech, RPI, CMU, I don't think girls get much advantage. And we must be careful not to confuse marketing or recruiting efforts with admissions tips. After all, high scorers on the SAT get "recruited". Does that mean they get a tip? Hardly.</p>
<p>But, your comment about the advantage boys have at most places is perhaps higher ed admissions least discussed dirty secret. After all, has anyone ever seen a breakdown of sat scores or class rank by gender? Maybe it exists, but I have not seen it.</p>
<p>This is a good discussion. I can only say again that we consumers (i.e. parents of applicants) need to be aware of the difference between what colleges say in their marketing/recruiting materials and what they actually do in admissions. We also need to be aware that trying to game the admissions system is as likely to backfire as it is to succeed. After all, adcoms have quite a bit of experience with applicants, more than we have with them, so the situation is a bit asymmetrical.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Harvey Mudd (virtually no girls or black students) and MIT.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I don't consider 35% girls "virtually none." Our freshman class this year is 46% girls.</p>
<p>I though is was no more than 26-28% female (overall) and 1% black when D was looking. So I should have said very few girls and virtually no black students?</p>
<p>Booklady,
Maybe your daughter knows my son -- he also got in EA to Yale as an intended Classics major, after taking 8 years of Latin and winning dozens of awards in Classics-related competitions. There was nothing fake about it -- three of his four classes this year are in Greek and Latin. So you do need the combination of a stated interest in something relatively rare and the background to show you have actual experience with it. I'd love my daughter to "job" the system by pretending she too loves Latin (she's been taking it since 5th grade also and has won some awards), but she has NO intention of being a classics major and won't fake it even to get into a top school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I though is was no more than 26-28% female (overall) and 1% black when D was looking. So I should have said very few girls and virtually no black students?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah there are virtually no black students. That is true. But there are definitely girls here and will be more girls every year for some time because it is a real focus of admissions. Plus Scripps is right across the street and that means a big influx of girls at parties and in the dining halls.</p>