<p>So I know a lot of people are under the (wrong?) impression that your chances of acceptance are higher if you apply to a less popular major.</p>
<p>I'm wondering if there's any truth to this when it comes to applying to NYU (specifically CAS).</p>
<p>I'm assuming there isn't since in college students change their major like twice a week.</p>
<p>Your assumption is correct. It is not true for CAS and Stern.</p>
<p>This is true to a degree, with students choosing the more common majors being placed into GSP, and those with less popular majors being put into CAS.</p>
<p>"This is true to a degree, with students choosing the more common majors being placed into GSP, and those with less popular majors being put into CAS."</p>
<p>Incorrect for many reasons, among them:</p>
<p>1) You can change your major at any point in CAS and Stern and they know this.</p>
<p>2) Most college kids end up majoring in something different than what they put on the app...again, this is well known by admissions. </p>
<p>3) By your logic non-GSP people should be lining up in droves to major in fields that are "unpopluar" making the them the popular majors.</p>
<p>4) If you were correct, it would indeed be very easy for applicants to game the system by simply selecting an unpopular major on the applicatioin (knowing they are not bound to it) so that way there is lesser chance they will be GSP-ed. Again, admissions knows this, and simply isn't that dumb.</p>
<p>Out of curiosity... how popular is the comparative literature major?</p>
<p>Well, I guess it's purely a coincidence that when people in my classes state their majors, there are always at least 5 people with the same one. And there are only 20 people in the class.</p>
<p>it has an effect but admissions isn't going to be obvious about it or everyone is going to be an "area studies" major</p>