<p>I was curious as to whether applying into a specific major at a school would increase or decrease you chance of admittance. For instance, would it help if I were to apply into/declare my major, which would be chemistry (a relatively unpopular major), and if that would help me get in. </p>
<p>I have spoken to the department head of chemistry at Bowdoin College, and he said that for a smaller sized school, some departments are always looking for students. For example, he said that Bowdoin only had something like 7 chemistry majors and that they would love to have more.</p>
<p>I think it can be helpful, but colleges will know if you’re BSing them. Like, if you declare your major in something unpopular, but have NO extracurriculars/classes showing passion for the major, you pretty much look like a liar.</p>
<p>I see. I do truly have a passion for science/chemistry. And my ECs show it. I went to a summer research program at UNH on nanotechnology and biotechnology, and attended a program at MIT on laser supercooling.</p>
<p>I was wondering I if I might fit into this position. I plan on majoring an actuarial science and hope to pursue a career as an actuary. It seems like I’m the only person who knows what an actuary is besides people who are actual actuaries. Is there a slight advantage to applying to a mostly unknown major?</p>
<p>@silverturtle
This is true, but when it comes to an underrepresented major (I’ve read about Classics at top LACs and Ivies, for example), colleges can sniff out BS pretty quick.</p>
<p>I simply do not see how they could do this without making many errors: many perspective classics majors, for example, may simply not have the opportunities that would allow them to express their interest in the field.</p>
<p>Meh, I’ve read about it a lot. Look it up. </p>
<p>As for the OP, I think you’re fine. And I think it might help you, but it obviously won’t be as much of a boost as a typical hook (URM, legacy, etc.)</p>
<p>I don’t see why anyways… people change majors like crazy. I could only see that applying to major-specific programs and scholarships.
Also, I’m not sure colleges can sniff out BS that easily as some people may declare their majors in interests they have not obvious on their resume.</p>
<p>@rymd - If you were an admissions officer and you saw a student declare chemistry (an underrepresented major at your school), with NO background (no AP Chem, no outside research, no science club, etc.), would you be a little suspicious?</p>
<p>If there are obvious opportunities at the school, maybe you could see BS, but some people may not consider a major til they start their application process anyway. That doesn’t mean they don’t actually want to major in that area.</p>
<p>Ya I am one for various schools. For some reason, though, I put economics as my #1 area of interest for UChicago and philosophy as my #2 area so meh. For the rest of my apps, though, econ is #3 and philosophy is #1. So, yea, does anyone have an answer to my question up there (post 11)?</p>
<p>I chose a pretty unpopular major, linguistics. I was serious enough about it to apply to schools where it was pretty much the only major offered that interested me (MIT, the only other thing I might like is Brain and Cognitive Science, I think) and to schools where it would be the only subject I would study (basically all of my UK schools). I was able to express quite clearly and (if I do say so myself [rolleyes]) eloquently why I wanted to study it, since I had to write an essay solely about that for my UK app and I just shortened it for every version of my US apps. I feel like it may have helped me stand out, but I think my level of seriousness and sincerity helped me more than the rarity alone.</p>
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<p>Depends on the college. I know they are at MIT (published in a recent blog, don’t feel like getting the link, but I can if you want me to), but considering its technical focus that shouldn’t be a surprise.</p>
<p>14 people graduated with degrees in philosophy from Harvard last year, meaning there are at least 40 philosophy concentrators or potential concentrators floating around the department at any given time. While one of the smaller departments, it is far from unpopulated.</p>
<p>26 people graduated with degrees in philosophy from Yale last year, making it second in popularity only to English in the humanities and more popular than any of the sciences except biology. </p>
<p>
Every department would “love to have more.” More students = more funding = better resources and potential hires</p>
<p>In any case, he is incorrect. Bowdoin has 15 chemistry majors, which translates to roughly 6 majors a year. When one considers that Yale produces 13 a year but is 3 times Bowdoin’s size, that number seems right on target.</p>
<p>Except sometimes in the cases of music and theatre where students may be “recruited” or in the case of impacted majors, choice of major is almost never a factor in admissions.</p>