Does the potential major you choose have any effect on your application?

Applying to College
1

Hey,

So I’m planning on applying ED to Columbia this month, and I had a few questions. I think that I have pretty competitive statistics (Valedictorian, great ECs, 35 ACT) but I have a few concerns.

The first concern I have is regarding the potential majors that you are asked to include on your application, and whether this has any bearing at all on an admissions decision. I am very interested in pursuing mathematics, but I’m a little afraid of overstating this in my application because the lowest grade I’ve ever gotten in HS was in BC Calc and I didn’t get an 800 on my Math SAT II’s (I got a 790), which I’m sure is pretty standard among people who go to Columbia to study mathematics. To boot, I only got a 6 (out of 7) on the IB Math SL examination I took last spring. I also don’t really have any math ECs, since my school doesn’t have any such clubs. I haven’t taken a IMO qualifying test or anything like that, and I’m sure that many people who go to Columbia for math have done significantly more than I have. I did get a 5 on my AP Calc exam, but I highly doubt this will have any real positive effect on my admissions decision.

I also am deadly afraid of writing my essays. I have a first draft of my personal statement completed, but I’m thinking that I’ll have to rewrite it anyways. Is it realistic to write these essays in a month, or am I pretty much screwed at this point? I think that I’m generally a fairly decent writer, but I’m still nervous that the amount of time I have before the November 1st deadline will lessen the quality of my essay, especially considering that most very competitive applicants already have theirs finalized.

Lastly, I had a question about submitting a supplement along with my application. I play the saxophone, and I was wondering whether it would be worth it to include a recording of myself as an mp3. Do admissions counselors listen to these sorts of recordings? If I send one and they aren’t impressed would it have any negative influence on my app? Or generally is it fairly safe to include such supplements?

Thank you for any help or advice you might be able to provide!

2
  1. The potential major you select has a massive impact on your application. If you apply an art major and you have lots of computer science extracurriculars, it would look very fishy. Plus, if there's a new major for the school and you luckily apply for it, you'll be an institutional priority and have an easier time of getting in.
  2. Just keep writing. If you can't finish just do rd.
  3. For your essays, if you write about Saxophone, they'll probably expect to receive some recording to you. If you're not very good, it certainly wouldn't help if you send it in.
3
  1. I have no math extracurriculars, and many music, humanities and volunteering extracurriculars. I believe my teacher is writing his recommendation letter about my love of math, but I'm concerned this will appear incongruous with the rest of my application. I did take the most advanced math courses my HS has to offer, but I haven't done more outside this to show my interest. I'm writing my IB extended essay on math and I'm teaching myself Math HL so I can sit for the exam in the spring. Would it be detrimental to put math as my intended major?
  2. Thanks!
  3. I believe that my playing abilities are good enough that it might aid my application, but I'm not planning on writing any of my essays on the saxophone (at this point).
4

For Columbia, it can matter based on which division you apply to (i.e. engineering or non-engineering).

5

If you send in a music recording the AOs will get the Music department to evaluate it. So someone trained will evaluate your abilities.

6

I agree that it would be by division, not by major. Admission officers are well aware that people can easily change majors within a program once they are accepted. In general, half of the applicants come in undecided and half of those who come in with a designated major end up changing it.

In terms of your essay, if you are unsure I would consider asking a trusted English teacher to read it over. Let the teacher know you don’t want him/her to re-write the essay, but just give you some advice/comments.

As to musical supplements, I would only include it if it is outstanding (close to conservatory level) quality.