<p>This is something about which I've wondered for a while after reading contradicting claims. Does Harvard have an over-abundance of Math/Science oriented applicants, and therefore indirectly give humanities-oriented applicants a greater chance? Or is it vice versa, that Harvard have too many humanties-oriented applicants, and hence gives math/science people an easier time since they are in the minority? Or perhaps this topic is too complex to be generalized in such terms?</p>
<p>um i do know that history is one of harvards most popular majors (40% i think) and some of the sciences are less represented (bio is 9% i think) of course i may be completely wrong.</p>
<p>i'd be more inclined to agree it's too complex to be generalized.
40% for history? I don't think so. it's popular, but not THAT popular.
the most popular concentration is econ i'm fairly sure.</p>
<p>Yeah, 40% is a bit off--the actual figure is less than six percent. Bio has slightly more concentrators, constituting about 6.5% of the graduating class. For ec, the figure is just under 17%.</p>
<p>I thought I read that Bio was a REALLY popular major (Med School prep..)</p>
<p>If you include biochem (a very stereotypically premed major) along with bio, that gets you up to about 10%. But lots of premeds major in history and science, or in things that have nothing to do with science at all.</p>
<p>By the way, you can see concentration stats here:
<a href="http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/handbooks/student/%5B/url%5D">http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/handbooks/student/</a></p>
<p>Phoenixy is correct. I am a pre-med student concentrating in History and Science and I love it. The popular concentrations (not in any particular order):</p>
<ul>
<li>Economics</li>
<li>English</li>
<li>Social Studies</li>
<li>Government</li>
<li>Biology</li>
<li>History and Literature</li>
<li>Biochemical Sciences</li>
</ul>
<p>Those are super popular majors here. My concentration (History of Science) has about 94 people in total. It's a very small department, so I can get lots of individual attention and still pursue my passion in the humanistic side of medicine.</p>
<p>So if I have solid stats in both math and english, would I have a better shot getting in as some sort of science major?</p>
<p>No, you will not. Roughly half the class express some interest in majoring in a science, but most do not. The admissions committee realizes this and does not give huge weight to the "prospective majors" section.</p>