<p>Hi! I'm a rising junior and have a few questions. I was wondering if things such as gender imbalances at a college can help an applicant. For example, most LAC's have more girls than guys. Does this mean guys have a slight advantage over girls in the admission process? And if so, does this apply to other "flaws" or "holes" at colleges. What if a college is in shortage of a certain type of major. For example, Yale and Harvard are short on engineering majors, simply because because their engineering depts aren't very well known. If I had the same stats as my friend, and my friend applies as an econ major but I apply as an engineering major, and both of us are qualified applicants, would I have a better chance of getting in? I hope my questions make sense. If you can come up with other "holes" that will give an applicant an advantage, please state them.</p>
<p>Ok, things are rarely as cut and dried as that.</p>
<p>It’s still hard to get into Harvard and Yale, regardless of what you apply as. Their engineering schools are not, to my knowledge, seperated as far as admissions is concerned, so no, it’s not really going to help.</p>
<p>Boys would have a slight statistical advantage (ie a higher percentage of male applicants would be admitted) but you would not have an appreciable advantage. It will not make up for anything that is lacking in your file.</p>
<p>“Holes” is an interesting way to put it, but it probably makes more sense than the traditional “tips” and “hooks,” which tend to be ill-defined on this board.</p>
<p>Basically, for most institutions, it is an advantage to be both qualified and to have something about you that is rare at that institution, and that the institution wants to have more of. So, you have a better chance of being admitted to MIT if you are female and to Vassar if you are male, those qualities being in relatively short supply at those two schools. Your intended major can make a difference, but not always.</p>
<p>Other things that make a difffernce is if you are an accomplished musician who plays an unusual instrument, an accomplished athlete good enough to play for one or more of the sports teams, etc.</p>