<p>Would it do any harm to write an essay about some other passion than your intended major? </p>
<p>Well, it depends on what the question is. If it’s not specifically asking about your academic interests, it’s probably no big deal.</p>
<p>Probably each college and admissions reader is different, and it can also depend on whether the passion has a strong association with college majors, or if it is more commonly seen as an extracurricular activity.</p>
<p>At schools which admit by major or division, level of applicant’s interest in the major may be an admission criterion, even if level of applicant’s interest in the school is generally not.</p>
<p>Yes, some schools admit by college/major.</p>
<p>Others don’t. Some don’t even allow you to declare a major when you apply. So for those colleges, write about any passion.</p>