I'm confused about the application process to us colleges?

<p>So I understand since I'm Canadian I have to independently do my SAT's but after signing for common applications I don't understand where and when I'm gonna have to tell the colleges what programs I am applying. In canada you apply to a universities programs not really the university itself but in the us it seems you apply to a college and your odds of getting in don't depend on the program you are entering.</p>

<p>That wasn't really a question so my question is, when applying for us colleges do I just apply to the university and then once im accepted I choose the program or am I missing something and I have to choose the program somewhere on common applications?</p>

<p>Most common app schools have a supplement where you indicate the program that you are applying to. </p>

<p>Alright thanks I must say I feel pretty stupid for having missed that section. Also does the acceptance rate depend on the program of choice, so some programs are easier to get into then others?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot :)</p>

<p>Yes, the acceptance rates vary greatly depending on the program. Most of the university websites will show acceptance rates for each program. Know that it is often difficult to change programs/majors, so it would be unwise to look for the easiest one to get into with hopes of changing. Good luck! </p>

<p>Ivies and other top 20 schools admit you to the university, not to the major. </p>

<p>If you do not qualify for the major a lot of universities will review you for undeclared instead or some may put you on contract until you complete some requirements.</p>

<p>Yeah I’m looking primarily at ivies so you say they admit to the university not the major… so it has absolutely no effect on the acceptance rate? I’m looking to major in economics wont that be slightly easier if im applying to MIT for example then any engineering programs in terms of getting in?</p>

<p>Applying to a STEM major is more competitive because that’s the majority of applicants. I know someone who applied to MIT for law and she got in even though her stats weren’t amazingly god-like.</p>

<p>MIT does not have a law school. </p>

Considering most students end up in a complete different major from what they put down, it won’t be easier to get in by putting a certain major (or else, everyone would try to game the system). That being said, if all of your high school activities revolve around business for example, you might want to put down economics to emphasize your passion rather than say, chemistry.

*Of course, this isn’t true if you’re applying to a specific program, like M&T at UPenn or something.

@TomSrOfBoston‌ Well she’s taking pre-requisites but she is planning to be a lawyer. Sorry if what I said was misleading.

Not sure what you mean, fallenwinter, about someone taking prerequisites for law at MIT? That makes little sense.

@alwaysamom‌ Yes, she is taking microeconomics, some tech classes and macroeconomics and she wants to be an international lawyer. Sorry if I confused anybody!

fallenwinter, my point, although not expressed clearly, was that there are no prerequisites for law school. You can study virtually any major and still be eligible for law school. I will add that “international lawyer” is not really a realistic goal. Law is very jurisdictional and such a very small number of lawyers practice anything resembling ‘international law’. It is not unusual to see 0Ls state this wish but it is something that she will discover if she ever actually gets into law school in the future.