How much does picking a "popular major" affect your chances at a college?

Applying to College
1

Hi everyone,

My first-choice major is business administration and my second is accounting. I was recently accepted to Case Western and I received a 20k scholarship only for accounting. Because of this, I felt that what kind of major I had really affected what financial aid or decision I received. So here are a few questions about “popular majors” and admissions that I was curious about:

  • If you pick an unpopular major, does your chances of receiving scholarships, better financial aid and ultimately, being accepted improve?
  • Is it harder to be admitted to a college if the major you pick is really popular at the school?
  • If you were accepted to a second choice major but it was in the department of your first choice major, can you transfer?
  • For colleges which allow you to apply with a first-choice and second-choice major, do you have a better shot at being admitted?
  • Also, does anyone have a link that has statistics on which majors are popular and which arent?

Also, I was wondering, is business administration a really popular major? What about accounting? (Just a side question I was wondering about my own admission chances)

Thanks to anyone who helps in advance.

2
  1. You want to pick the major that supports your academic interest. For example, if you really love mathematics and your extracurriculars/test scores/teachers back this up, then put math. Do not pick an unpopular major just because it's unpopular. However, if you have a demonstrated interest in an unpopular major (classics, etc.), then that may slightly help.
  2. Usually prospective major doesn't influence admissions decisions, especially since many kids change their major while in college. However, majors like computer science and other more competitive ones may make acceptance slightly harder.
  3. Depends on the school––generally, I would say yes.
  4. No.
  5. It varies by school, but generally majors like computer science and economics are popular and majors like the classics aren't. Check with each school.
3

If the selection bar differs by major, it is likely that changing later will be more difficult. For example, students who apply to UIUC or Washington for CS may be offered only general admission, since only a few get admitted to the CS major directly. Students who attend undeclared face a highly competitive process to get into the CS major.

4

OP, I don’t think you’re reading your award letter correctly. Case western is single door admission, so scholarship and acceptance generally don’t depend on major (with some exceptions- I received a music scholarship from case, but chose not to attend). There’s no separate admissions barrier to the business school. You can major in whatever you like once you’re there in any school (with exceptions like auditions for music and I think nursing may have an additional hurdle but i don’t remember).