I’m a rising senior and have started choosing colleges to apply to. I know I’m going to either major in Math or CS, but I really can’t choose which one to apply to to different colleges. For most of the colleges I’m looking at, Math and CS are in the same school, and that’s where I’m having a bit of a dilemma. I’m worried that if I put myself down as a Math Major (which most of my ECs are related to), I would lessen my chances because of the multitude of USAMO Winners or Moppers or whatever. On the other hand, if I apply as a CS major (of which I have a non trivial amount of related activities), I’m worried that I’ll be outshined by the multitudes of CS applicants I’m sure colleges have every year. I know it feels artificial to ask which major to apply as, but I’m deeply torn as to what major I should apply to, since I’m equally interested in both. I mean, I guess I’m marginally more interested as a Math major, but given that the colleges I’m looking at have Math and CS in the same school, it doesn’t seem like it would be too hard to “switch majors” (although I’m fairly certain I don’t have to even declare a major until later).
Look up “[college name] change major math” and “[college name] change major computer science” to see if either major at that college is difficult to change into (e.g. very high GPA, or a competitive admission process).
I’m aware that some colleges make CS a more competitive major to transfer into, but that wasn’t what I was trying to ask. I’m asking if, when Math and CS are in the same college and changing majors isn’t an issue, does it make a difference whether I put Math or CS as my intended major.
I think that you should put the major you’re more interested in? You have more ECs relating to math and you like it more anyways! Don’t stress about not having perfect stats, it’s not the end of the world. If it actually does worry you that much, you can apply to some colleges with a first choice and second choice major even within the same school, so you could choose both of them?
whoops accidentally posted the same comment twice
Don’t assume that just because math and CS are in the same college that you can just switch. That’s not the case at many schools. CS has become very impacted and it is often very difficult to get into CS courses if you are outside the major.
Have a balanced list of colleges, focused on match and safety schools, pick the major you are most interested, and you will be fine. Reaches are going to be long shots no matter what.
If your question is whether picking math or CS as your intended major affects your chance of admission, the answer is it depends. CS is among the most popular majors on many campuses, but how a college deals with the problem associated with its popularity varies. Some have artificial but explicit barriers to declare or switch major to CS. Some tries to discern your real interest (based on your past activities, etc.) during the admission process. Some tries to limit the overall number of STEM students, assuming certain percentage of them would choose to major in CS based on the current trend. And then some just don’t care.
CS is often one of the most competitive majors to get into. Not sure which schools you’re looking at, but my D20 had good success applying this year as a Math major with NO USAMO experience whatsoever. Maybe check to see if the schools on your list publish acceptance rates by major. Also agree with others to apply to a range of schools (likely, match, reach) and check transfer policies.
I checked fairly carefully and the colleges where CS is an impacted major, I’m applying to CS directly. It’s not that I explicitly want to be a math major more than a CS major, it’s just that I’m sort of afraid of a lack of job opportunities with being a math major without taking CS classes.
Colleges where changing majors isn’t an issue, I’m planning to put Math as my intended major, since I seem to have more Math ECs? On that note, how exactly would colleges discern my interest in CS. I never competed in USACO since I found out about it pretty late, but I have done tons of coding contests beside it and I have submitted a CS research paper into a contest (in which it did fairly well). It doesn’t seem like there are an excess of CS EC opportunities in the first place (Although this may be me just trying to justify a lack of CS ECs)?
At least for math achievements, don’t worry too much about this unless you are targeting Harvard and MIT, maybe a few others. There are only about 100 domestic kids at that level in the entire applicant pool nationwide, and to even get to that number you need to broaden your talent search way beyond just AMO winners (of which IMO team members will almost always be a subset) and MOPers. I am assuming that is what you mean by “whatever” but again, there are not going to be very many kids at this level.
Just put your best foot forward and good luck!