<p>Well it's a general trend he's talking about, so you can't refute it with one sample point as your data.</p>
<p>The effect of major on admissions decisions is something I've wondered about for a long time (made a thread about this) and I would really like some definite answers.</p>
<p>well...maybe the ultimate reason is this.</p>
<p>getting into harvard also depends on the LUCK factor</p>
<p>a typical example is my dad who got into Harvard with full scholarship (tuition+allowance) as an OVERSEAS poor chinese kid and really, he wasn't that spectacular (I know seeing as I live with him every day lol). But he said that he wrote a good essay and the admissions officer must have REALLY liked it and just HAD to have him. It really was the luck that did it.</p>
<p>That is irrelevant to whether or not your intended major helps you get in.</p>
<p>Duality--I wasn't using myself as the sole datum point. It was just an example... If the department your major is in pushes for you, that definitely helps. Otherwise, I don't think undersubscribed departments help.</p>
<p>someone replied me saying they thought the intended major has no influence on admission. So that's why I brought up the luck factor. Still I do believe that it would be harder to get into Harvard by choosing a popular major. More competition.</p>
<p>Btw, I read a book on admissions and getting in colleges and it did say that some kids chose majors that didn't get a lot of attention in order to increase their chances of getting into colleges. It does helps sometimes, but if the interviewer/admissions officer found out you'd be crossed off their list immediately. So it would be a stupid thing to do.</p>
<p>"a typical example is my dad who got into Harvard with full scholarship (tuition+allowance) as an OVERSEAS poor chinese kid and really, he wasn't that spectacular (I know seeing as I live with him every day lol). But he said that he wrote a good essay and the admissions officer must have REALLY liked it and just HAD to have him. It really was the luck that did it."</p>
<p>When he applied, due to immigration and other restrictions, there probably were not very many Chinese applicants, so that probably was a big factor in his being admitted. Things are very different now.</p>
<p>Northstarmom, would you happen to know the role (or lack thereof) stated concentrations play in Harvard admissions?</p>
<p>futuristic--If you're faking interest in an under-subscribed major, they'll know. If you apply for, say, Italian without having taken an Italian course or done any ECs in it, it becomes pretty obvious.</p>
<p>1000 posts, GuitarMan. Time to take all CCers out to dinner.</p>
<p>Oh...oh....no way!</p>
<p>~cries~ I just want to thank my mom, my dad, corranged and PorSK, chicken vindaloo, and the Big Man Upstairs. This is such an honor, it truly is--thank you!!</p>
<p>hahhaaha, chicken vindaloo.................. lmao</p>
<p>I was deffered and I am depressed so I believe just posting this would help me. I am so glad I found this site otherwise I would have gone insane. Just waiting...waiting...it's so long.</p>
<p>Hey, I wasn't deferred, and I'm depressed too! Welcome to the cult of students who would give anything to mop the floors of Byerly Hall, wages or none. What is it, 48 days now? I vote to organize a nationwide scream of "WHY, Harvard, WHY?!!!!!" at a set time on a certain day. 6 p.m. eastern, 3 p.m. pacific, so it's convenient for everyone. How's Tuesday the 14th? It'll take the edge off the pinkness.</p>
<p>Ya know. It is funny how many people thought that me...AP FREAK... if deferred would post a billion annoy posts and threads throughout CC. Quite the opposite has happened.</p>
<p>You made everyone on CC so much happier by precisely doing that. We must commend you for your efforts.</p>
<p>Stats:</p>
<pre><code>* SAT I (by section): 800M, 760V, didn't take writing
* SAT IIs: 800 MATH II, 800 US History, 800 BIO M
* ACT:36 (composite), 33 Verbal/Essay section
* APs: 5's on Physics C (both), BC Calc, Environment Science, Bio, H. Geo
* GPA: Unweighted: 4.0
* Rank: 1/176
* Senior Yr Courseload: AP Spanish, Teacher Aide, AP Lit, Acc Orch, AP Stat, AP Chem, English Lit B
* Number of Apps from Your School: 4
</code></pre>
<p>Subjective:</p>
<pre><code>* ECs listed on app: VP of school
* Essays (subject and responses): okay to good
* Teacher Recs: 4 great recs
* Counselor Rec: Standard Plus
* Interview (feel and general location): at school under awkward conditions (i got interviewed on last possible day due to paper shuffling error on Harvard's end)
* Hook (if any):USAMO qualifier, VP of school, top 5 AAA travel challenge in state, 7th in state congress
</code></pre>
<p>Location/Person:</p>
<pre><code>* State or Country: IN
* School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): Best public school in state (arguably)
* Ethnicity: Asian American
* Gender: Male
* Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: maybe because I applied as a junior...
</code></pre>
<p>Did you really have class VP as your only EC? That's probably what killed you...</p>
<p>well, it was school VP, not class. I'm also an editor of the school paper, in the Spanish Honor Society, member of spanish club, captain school science team, and inaugural member of our state-ranked spell bowl team. I've also done some stuff with music and was the first chair of my 10th grade school orchestra. I thought that my student council position would be the most impressive to harvard, however; am i wrong?</p>