On the Common App, schools ask for your intended major. (I know you can usually change this later if you’re accepted.) How beneficial is it to choose a new major that a school has just recently began offering?
I’m thinking this MIGHT be able help a kid stand out?
If the college does not accept by major then IMO it won’t matter – admissions officers will fully understand that you will be free to switch majors once you enroll in the college.
A new major may be made because of high demand (e.g. data science). If that is the case, then the effect may be the opposite of what you think it will be.
But if you really want to do that major, and the college admits by major, list it as your major. If it is harder to get into as frosh, it will be harder to change into after enrolling in a different major.