Majors

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>When you indicate your "prospective major" in your application (if you even do, that is...), does that affect admission in any way? I thought it might, because Stanford wouldn't want a zillion biology majors or economy majors... right?</p>

2

<p>if you deserve to get in, you will get in.</p>

<p>why would your prospective major change whether or not you deserve the acceptance letter?</p>

3

<p>Yes, you are right, thepapercrane. </p>

<p>It does affect your admission.</p>

4

<p>yeah, i was just wondering. I know, if I work hard enough it wouldn't matter.
... wait, no, not even that-- if I'm smart enough.
Bleh.</p>

5

<p>What if you mark undecided?</p>

6

<p>I really don't think it matters very much. If you really are undecided that's fine for Stanford but if you are then say it. I think one of he reasons I did get in was because I showed passion and intrest about the major I chose.</p>

7

<p>That's why I don't want to mark undecided. It might make me seem ignorant or not-caring about anything (I can't think of the right word) and shift their decision the wrong way.</p>

8

<p>INDIFFERENT!!! That's the word!</p>

9

<p>Don't worry my friend (who got in SCEA btw) applied undeclared and I'm sure Stanford won't look at it negatively. Indeed Stanford is always preaching about being open minded to new subjects. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on whether or not to declare a major.</p>

10

<p>Right.</p>

<p>BUT if you have concentrated on mathematic in high school and then mark "English" that might cause for some red-penned question marks next to that part of the app.</p>

11

<p>I was told by two friends (both of whom got into Stanford this year) that many -- almost most -- of the people they met at Admit Weekend were undeclared. Both of them are going in undeclared as well. Hence, I really don't think it's a problem at all. :]</p>

12

<p>But I think it helps. If a student marks "classics" as his major and definitely shows passion and dedication towards the subject, it will catch the adcoms attention. </p>

<p>BTW, superwizard, what did you mark for your prospective major?</p>

13

<p>Do they even look at your major when you apply? Or is it just something they use to categorize you if they accept you? Either way, the major that I fell in love with is perfectly suited for my personality and matches my passions quite well, but I'm still curious about it. :]</p>

14

<p>I marked chemical engineering and in my essays I made it show that I was truly in love with chemistry, mechanics and calculus. One of my essays was talking about using hydrogen as a fuel too.</p>

15

<p>Oh and my class schedule was really science oriented too</p>

16

<p>how can you "love" chemistry mechanics and calculus?</p>

17

<p>

I'm assuming that you mean how I showed it in my application? Well I can't speak specifically about my Stanford application (I wrote it 7 months ago I don't remember that long) but I generally made sure that the university understood how passionate I was about these subjects, how I loved taking them and how to me they are a window to view the amazingness of nature. If you mean how could you love them as in they're boring subjects then I have no answer to that I just do.</p>

18

<p>ahaha, yeah, i was referring to the latter, but whatever, to each his own</p>

19

<p>It shouldn't affect admissions because Stanford doesn't accept people into specific departments like other schools. I put chemistry, and by the way failed to enter in the abbreviation like they wanted, even though my main EC is music and I've only taken high school honors chemistry, haven't done any research, didn't mention chemistry in my essays etc.
I doubt there is any major you could put that would increase your chances of getting in, so don't bother.</p>

20

<p>What if you are split between two majors? Let's say you want to major in either chem or math. Would you list that as literally "chem or math" on an application, or would that be considered "undecided"?</p>