<p>I noticed that most Ivy league schools, including Princeton, require an engineering essay if one is applying for an engineering major. However, they do not require essays for any other major. Why is that? Is it more competitive for engineers? Does it give an admissions boost for women? Thanks for your input, everyone.</p>
<p>Bump…Anyone at all? :D</p>
<p>I don’t think it has anything to do with engineering being more competitive. Maybe because unlike most other majors engineers need to have a good idea of what they want to do going it (for example, they declare their majors a year before everyone else)? Also, remember that engineering isn’t a major, it’s a whole different degree that you’re getting (B.S.E. instead of A.B.). </p>
<p>I’d assume that show interest in any major where women are underrepresented would give a small advantage. So that would include engineering but also stuff like math and physics.</p>
<p>Cornell, Columbia, and Brown have major-specific essays. Harvard and Dartmouth don’t require essays, and Upenn doesn’t have an engineering essay.</p>
<p>So unless “most” means just Yale and Princeton, most of the Ivy League don’t require an engineering essay.</p>
<p>As for why the essay in the first place, I agree with the above poster. Engineering requires a lot more courses and dedication, so they want to see your motivation to ensure you don’t end up dropping out later.</p>
<p>I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure UPenn’s essay is school specific, if not major specific, so if you want to do engineering at Penn you would need to write about it</p>