<p>All of last year I was planning on majoring in History in college but over the summer and this fall I changed my mind and decided that I wanted to major in Math. It's always been my calling my so my family was pleased and I also heard from some admissions officers that it would help me during admissions since barely anyone wants to major in math (excluding schools like MIT of course).</p>
<p>Following this train of thought I figured, since MIT offers a history major, I should apply to MIT as mainly a history major (since I have the qualifications.. 5 on AP Euro 5 on AP US etc) but also say that I wanted to study math as a double major or minor.</p>
<p>So my question, does anyone think this will help me in the admissions process?</p>
<p>No. Major is not considered in the admissions process.</p>
<p>
[quote]
We're asking about your preferred field of study because we're curious about what interests you right now - not because we have any quotas. You won't declare your major until the end of your freshman year - there's a lot of time between now and then to explore, discover new things, change your mind. For this reason, approximately half of our students ultimately major in something entirely different from what they wrote on their application, so we couldn't use this data to predict anything even if we wanted to. Moral of the story: writing "underwater basket weaving" will not give you an edge in the admissions process, so just be honest!
<p>You should put what you, at the time of application, are really interested in pursuing. Like ducktape says, your choice of major doesn't matter much, and, even ethics aside, it is always best to be honest in your college applications. Don't try to make yourself out to be something you really aren't.</p>
<p>Also, I think if represented yourself as primarily a history major (or if you really were), the "fit" with MIT might be called into question. You don't go to MIT to study history...</p>
<p>Check out the special archives collections online at MIT and see if you
can find some area that beckons to you</p>
<p>Gukki5, You sound unique! There is a short paragraph you write in part 2
that you talk about what you want to do at MIT. History and math is a
unique combination; find out what courses you would be doing at MIT
if indeed you did those majors in the future and see if there is
something passionate about that combination you could share with your application readers.</p>
<p>Have fun on your application and reach out from your heart! If an unique
major combination is part of your pursuit it will certainly make you more
of a "person" in your evaluator's eyes...?</p>
<p>Thanks for the input arwen15 and others. I believe I brought across my enthusiasm for math, science, and history in my application. (Talked about the Linear Algebra ind. study I've been doing on my own and then had an essay on an interstellar propulsion system I thought up.. think I brought up history somewhere too). So hopefully my array of interests will play to my favor!</p>
<p>Well I guess I'll find out Saturday! Good luck to everyone else who applied as well.</p>