<p>As girls are typically underrepresented in the 'hard' sciences, I was wondering whether this would play any role in the app process at a highly competitive school like Yale (i.e. is this gonna help me out?). </p>
<p>Would a girl taking Phys C and a BC Calc independent study who states an interest in pursuing a major in physics (or math, or engineering) have any sort of edge over another female with an expressed interest in the humanities?</p>
<p>thanks :)</p>
<p>It is hard to assess whether this makes much difference. Compare two actual class of 2010 international student applications. Both girls have identical ethnic background, have similar classical/modern languages training, virtually identical Finaid need and both are first in their class at very distinguished schools. SAT girl A is 800 CR, 720 M, 680 WR. SAT girl B is 800 CR, 800 M, 730 WR. </p>
<p>Girl A expresses interest in doing psychology and theatre and has the course profile to back this up, Girl B expresses interest mathematics and church music and has the course profile to back this up i.e., Phys. C and BC calculus. Both are deferred EA. Girl A gets into Yale but not Harvard; girl B gets into Harvard but not Yale. The bad news is that the process is a crapshoot. The good news is that you will get in at a school which is as good or better than the one that turned you down.</p>
<p>still, i would hazard a yes,..</p>
<p>This strategy could backfire if many other girls decide to play up their science side in their applications to Harvard, Yale, etc. Then the admissions offices would have a flood of female applicants to the sciences and be on the lookout for female applicants expressing interest in the humanities.</p>
<p>that sure would be ironic a concept I always try to understand,..to gain all that science ability for nothing.</p>