<p>Is intended major a hook? Like if I were to exhibit to an admissions committee the intention for a major underrepresented at Harvard, like religion, would it help my chances?</p>
<p>Beyond revolting!</p>
<p>I know its an genuine question but when does it end!? We cause all the problems we see in the admissions process!</p>
<p>To answer your question, though: it probably helps more than listing a major that is popular such as econ.</p>
<p>It is not a hook.</p>
<p>However, an unusual major that you have shown interest and aptitude in can certainly give you a leg up.</p>
<p>"However, an unusual major that you have shown interest and aptitude in can certainly give you a leg up."</p>
<p>This is true. An example would be if you are the national champion for Junior Classical League and say that you plan to major in the classics. </p>
<p>Now if you've never taken a classical language or done anything related to classics, yet say you want to major in classics, my guess is that the adcoms would probably reject you for trying to scam the system.</p>
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<p>In the supp, I put my intended field of study "Biological Sciences," then under intended profession I put "Media: Journalism." Mwahaha. Die, system, die!</p>
<p>I'm serious, though. America could use more science writers. Who else would translate medical jargon into the sort of stuff they put on Vicadin commercials?</p>
<p>It's not like biological sciences is an unusual concentration at Harvard....</p>
<p>Just to be clear, though, many many people (myself and a lot of my friends included) applied to Harvard "undecided" and got in.</p>
<p>My intended major (either computer science or electrical engineering, can't remember which) acted in my favor because Harvard tends to lose a lot of applicants with my aspirations and qualifications to schools like MIT, Cal Tech, and Princeton. The Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences sent me literature and gave my parents phone calls recruiting me to the division and school before the email decisions came out, so I imagine they played a major role in getting me accepted.</p>
<p>I don't think this was a hook by any means, though. I have done real work in the field (including soon-to-be-published research) and my past experiences demonstrate an actual interest in and qualification for my major.</p>
<p>If you aren't already a strong candidate, then your choice of major, particularly if it's an arbitrary choice that isn't reflected in your past experiences, won't help you. I know computer science. Do you know religion?</p>
<p>"If you aren't already a strong candidate, then your choice of major, particularly if it's an arbitrary choice that isn't reflected in your past experiences, won't help you. "</p>
<p>If you have no experiences documenting your interest in the major that you list, your choice may hurt you because Harvard adcoms would assume you're lying in order to try to give yourself a better shot at acceptance. That would also make them doubt other parts of your application. The adcoms value character and honesty.</p>
<p>I know religion quite well, actually. I'm deeply interested in the question of God and theology. I started an apologetics group at my Church, and I might include a recommendation from my pastor, and will probably let it show through in my essay. But I want to go into medicine, and pre-med majors like biology, biochemistry, and chemistry are quite common. I wouldn't do it out of complete dishonesty.</p>