Does Stanford put your desired major into consideration when you apply for undergrad

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Does Stanford put your desired major into consideration when you apply for undergraduate admission?</p>

<p>for example: I am interested in pursing a career in the business field and Stanford offers two majors that appeal to me: Economics and Management Science and Engineering. I'm not sure which one I would choose yet but I am leaning a little more toward Management Science and Engineering. However, my math and science grades are not the best and my social studies and English grades are definitely better. If I applied with Management Science as my desired major would I be at more of a disadvantage than if I applied with Economics as my desired major?</p>

<p>thanks!</p>

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<p>Any effect on admission due to your choice of major will be the result of an unconscious decision in contradiction to the alleged policies of Stanford admissions officers, and it would be minor.</p>

<p>So, pick whatever major you want; it won’t matter.</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>Silverturtle is probably right.</p></li>
<li><p>That said, I think someone with mediocre math grades who said he wanted to study math might be at a disadvantage. I have seen focus groups look at applications, and the person who says she wants to be an English major, but writes badly, is dead, while the same essay from an obvious math-science person might be OK. It’s not a matter of judging by major, it’s more judging whether this student knows what he or she is doing.</p></li>
<li><p>BOTH Economics and MSE are heavily math-oriented majors. I don’t know what you mean by “not the best”, but if you are uncomfortable with math you may want to rethink your goals. Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus is a prerequisite for the Economics major.</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>Just put English. They don’t care after they make their decision. They can’t force you to do this major or that major.</p>

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<p>

Stanford is looking for students who pursue their interests with great intensity. If you will try to game the system, your application will look weak, as there will be no evidence of real interest in the subject you put as your major.</p>

6

<p>

Considering that the OP has very strong English and Humanities grades, I don’t think that Stanford would see that the OP is trying to game the system. The grades would reveal that he/she is strong at English but weaker at math & science so they would conclude a good reason as to why the OP would put english. So the interest is quite revealed in the OP’s grade. Also the major is pretty much overlooked. Adcom doesn’t care really what you put down, they skim over that part because they know many will change their mind. </p>

<p>PS. There are more people that say that they want to pursue a science and math related majors than people who say they want to do an English major.</p>